Nicholas A. Langworthy and Carl Paladino are running in New York’s 23rd Congressional District Republican primary on August 23, 2022.
Incumbent Rep. Christopher Jacobs (R) withdrew from the primary on June 3. Spectrum News 1’s Ryan Whalen wrote, “The election opened up […] when Rep. Chris Jacobs dropped out of the race. Jacobs faced immense pressure from the GOP and Conservative Party to withdraw after expressing his support for several new gun laws including a federal ban on AR-15-style rifles.”
The Buffalo News’ Robert J. McCarthy said Langworthy and Paladino’s presence in the primary “is expected to result in a lively race, pitting against each other two well-known conservatives and allies of former President Donald Trump in an overwhelmingly Republican and pro-Trump district.”
Langworthy is chairman of the New York Republican Party. He also worked as an executive committee member for Donald Trump’s (R) 2016 presidential transition. Langworthy received endorsements from the House Conservatives Fund and its chairman, Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.). Banks said, “Nick is a true conservative who will be on the front lines fighting back against the radical policies of Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden. Nick will put American workers and families first and he is ready to hit the ground running on Day One.”
Paladino is an attorney who chairs the Ellicott Development Company, a real estate development and management company. He co-chaired Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign in New York, and was the Republican nominee for governor of New York in 2010. Paladino received endorsements from House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y). Stefanik said, “Carl is a job creator and conservative outsider who will be a tireless fighter for the people of New York in our fight to put America First to save the country.”
The Elmira Star-Gazzette’s Chris Potter wrote that the district’s “new borders [after redistricting] include Allegany, Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, plus a large part of Erie County.” According to data from Daily Kos, 58% of New York’s new 23rd District population came from the old 23rd District, 36% came from the old 27th District, and 6% came from the old 26th District.