CORNING, NY (WSKG) - Democrat Tracy Mitrano held a campaign re-launch on Thursday evening in Rep. Tom Reed's home town of Corning. Mitrano first announced her intent to again challenge Reed shortly after her defeat in the 2018 mid-term elections. She said the Corning event was meant to bring together supporters from across the district.
Mitrano will likely face Southern Tier oral surgeon Scott Noren in next June's Democratic primary, but she focused most of last night's comments on the Republican incumbent.
Mitrano was a cyber security policy specialist before leaving Cornell University to run against Reed in the 2018 election. She said Reed doesn't take the cybersecurity threat to the country's election system seriously enough.
"Cyber security threats," she said, "that may seem cerebral, but haunt our election process and the integrity of our democratic process."
Mitrano also criticized Reed for the campaign contributions he accepts from outside his district. She also says Reed has failed to respond to the needs of middle and low income constituents.
Several supporters spoke before Mitrano stepped to the podium. Among them was former Chemung County dairy farmer Anthony Marco.
Marco, who was once a Reed supporter, said the congressman ignored his requests to talk about the problems facing local dairy farmers.
Marco thinks Congress should work together and pass the USMCA, which is called the new NAFTA.