TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y.—First-time candidate Brandon Williams has declared his candidacy for the 22nd Congressional District in New York in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Williams, a Republican, is from the Town of Sennett in Cayuga County. He runs an orchard with his family and works for a California software company that he helped found after serving in the United States Navy. He is the third Republican to enter the race seeking the GOP nomination, along with Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler earlier this week and Timothy Ko from Onondaga County.
Williams said in his announcement that his reasons for running are fueled by anger toward the current federal administration and Democratic leaders around the country, highlighting “woke policies” in New York City, Los Angeles and Seattle towards law enforcement.
More locally, Williams also mentioned about regional economic issues impacting the working class population here, arguing that the pathway to wealth acquisition is interconnected to several other aspects of life growing up—also taking the opportunity to take a swipe at the perceived “critical race theory” curriculum in schools.
“I want to see Central New York prosper again,” Williams said. “I want businesses to prosper, I want workers to prosper, I want the poor to prosper. Generational prosperity starts with education — quality public schools that are free from left-wing indoctrination, trade-schools that lead to solid skills and wages, and affordable
Community Colleges. We must also foster the growth of our small and medium sized businesses, actively encourage entrepreneurship, and we must attract investment into this region.”
Williams has clearly struck a chord among at least some Republicans in the area, as he received an endorsement from the Conservative Party Candidates Committee (different than the Republican party) this week after each candidate interviewed with the committee, made up of Conservative Party chairs from the counties in the district.
“Brandon is personable, knowledgeable, focused and capable of keeping this seat,” said Onondaga County Chairman Bernard Ment. “Brandon can raise the money needed to win, and maintain the focus of the race on the critical issues affecting our district. He is the candidate that can unite the Conservative and Republican parties and, more importantly, the voters of the eight counties represented by the new Congressional district.”