Paul Battisti and Michael Korchak are heading into a rematch of their 2019 Republican primary for Broome County district attorney.
Battisti formally announced his candidacy for the office Wednesday. Speaking to a room of a few dozen supporters, Battisti said he plans to run a “positive campaign” and focus on calling out what he considers to be a failed first term by Korchak.
"We have not heard one remedy, one plan of action, nor one solution,” Battisti said. "What we have heard is excuses, empty gestures and Facebook posts trying to justify the failed performance within the office.”
Battisti won a Republican primary against Korchak in 2019, but lost in the general election after Korchak switched parties to run as a Libertarian. Debra Gelson unsuccessfully ran on the Democratic line in that race.
Korchak announced his bid for reelection in December. At the time, he said he’d switched back to the Republican Party and intended to run for that line.
"This year, Korchak wants Republicans to believe he's one of us again,” Battisti said, criticizing Korchak’s decision to switch parties.
Battisti announced his candidacy at the Endicott Sons of Italy Wednesday. He was joined by a number of Republican officials including Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar, county Legislator Matt Pasquale and Binghamton City Councilman Phil Strawn. Former Broome County GOP Chairman Bijoy Datta is managing Battisti’s campaign.
Current Broome County GOP Chairman Benji Federman told WSKG in an interview last month prior to Battisti’s announcement, that he doesn’t believe the county Republican committee will formally endorse a candidate in the race, though he was open to the idea.
“I don't anticipate that the committee will be making any endorsements," Federman said. "The committee will not be, but I'm open to the conversation there. If the committee feels, you know, we have 120 committee members. I seek their opinions often and, you know, I would seek the committee's input on that.”
