F
rom the earliest days of the 2024 election cycle, the gaze of the Democratic Caucus has been locked on New York’s 22nd congressional district.
In 2022, Rep. Brandon Williams defeated democratic candidate Francis Conole for the seat by a margin of 2,631 votes, or approximately 0.1% of the electorate. The race was one of many in a wave of victories for Republicans in congressional seats across the nation. Republicans carry a narrow 220-212 lead in the House of Representatives going into the 2024 election.
Labeled as “lean democrat” by the Cook Political Report, NY-22 is the only seat in Congress currently held by a Republican that polls show favoring the Democratic candidate. As a result, both parties have focused national efforts and funding on the district, which represents Madison, Onondaga and portions of Cayuga, Cortland and Oneida counties.
Williams, the incumbent, is a Texas native who has faced scrutiny throughout his time in office and during this campaign for living outside the district in Sennett, New York. The congressman, who purchased land in upstate New York in 201o and made it his permanent residence in 2019, still lives outside the district’s bounds. Williams served as a Strategic Missile Officer in the United States Navy in the 1990s and had a career in business afterward.
State Sen. John Mannion, the Democratic candidate, has served in the New York State Senate since 2020. Mannion, who grew up in Syracuse, was a high school biology teacher in West Genesee Central School District before he was elected to office.
The Daily Orange has compiled an analysis of both campaign’s finances.
Lucía Santoro-Vélez | Presentation Director
Campaign funds:
The race for NY-22 has commanded millions of dollars from organizations and individuals across the nation. According to OpenSecrets, Williams’ campaign has raised over $3.6 million, while Mannion’s campaign has raised $3.25 million. The average House campaign has raised just over $690,000 during the 2023-24 cycle.
Williams has used roughly $3.59 million and Mannion has used just over $3 million. Heading into the final week of the campaign, both candidates hold about $350,000 and $450,000 in cash on hand, respectively.
Individual contributions:
Mannion’s campaign received under $2.75 million from individuals, while Williams earned just over half as much, with roughly $1.6 million.
In their first congressional debate, Mannion said his campaign was predominantly funded by people living in New York state. According to Federal Elections Commission data, 84% of his campaign’s funds came from individual contributions.
Though, only $1.4 million — slightly over 50% of funds given by individual contributors — are from New York state.
Mannion’s campaign has received funds from individuals in 33 states, including nearly $75,000 from voters in California.
Fifteen people who listed their employer as “Syracuse University” contributed to Mannion’s campaign, with their donations totaling nearly $60,000. One person with SU listed as their employer contributed $250 to Williams’ campaign.
Political action committees:
During their first debate, Mannion alluded to Williams’ motives being outside the district because of his history living in California and Texas. He also claimed that much of Williams’ funds have come from political action committees outside New York.
Of Williams’ $990,000 raised by PACs, just over 10% of those funds came from New York state. For Mannion, 14% of the $445,000 contributed to his campaign from PACs is from PACs based in New York.
According to FEC data, Texas-based PACs donated $103,800 to the Williams campaign, while New York-based PACs have contributed $99,600 to his campaign.
Lucía Santoro-Vélez | Presentation Director
The Williams campaign’s largest committee donors and their total donation amounts include:
- American Israel Public Affairs Committee: $52,274
- Eye of the Tiger: $30,000
- Majority Committee: $30,000
Williams has said it’s “central that the United States stands with Israel” throughout his campaign. AIPAC is a committee dedicated to “building bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship,” according to its website. AIPAC only contributes 35% of its funds to Republican candidates, according to OpenSecrets.
Eye of the Tiger PAC is a conservative committee based in Arlington, Virginia, that has contributed $4.1 million to Republican candidates across the nation in this election cycle. The PAC is sponsored by Louisiana 1st District Rep. and U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
The Majority Committee, headquartered in Bakersfield, California, is affiliated with former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.
Both Eye of the Tiger and Majority Committee are considered “leadership PACs” because of their connection with specific politicians.
The Mannion Campaign’s largest committee donors and their total donation amounts include:
- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Political Action League: $10,000
- North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee, United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America: $10,000
- Amalgamated Transit Union Committee on Public Education: $7,500
SMART Workers PAL is one of the largest labor unions in the U.S., representing 230,000 people. In August, the union endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for president and has made large contributions to Democratic candidates running in districts where many of its members live and work, including NY-22.
NASRCC Legislative Improvement Committee, a northeast-based union, and UBCJA, the largest carpenters’ union in the U.S., both have histories of contributing to progressive candidates who prioritize improving workers wages and work conditions — something Mannion has supported for much of his political career.
ATU-COPE is a union representing workers involved in the public transportation system, including school bus drivers and professional vehicle operators at all levels of government.
Before running for public office, Mannion served as president of the West Genesee Teachers’ Association.
The union has also contributed to the campaigns of New York state congressional candidates Rep. Tom Suozzi, Rep. Patrick Ryan and Laura Gillen, who are running in the NY-03, NY-18 and NY-04 districts, respectively. Spectrum News 1 reported these races have all been labeled as “key races” due to their narrow margins in polls and implications for controlling Congress.
DISCLAIMER: All figures in this story, and subsequent calculations, are from Federal Election Commission and OpenSecrets.org data. All figures and calculations were found and performed on or before Friday, October 25, 2024. FEC and OpenSecrets report data in 48-hour cycles, which may contribute to some inconsistencies after this article’s publication.
Photo by: Brycen Pace | Assistant Photo Editor
Published on October 31, 2024 at 1:15 am
Contact Duncan: digreen@syr.edu
