The NY-22 election could flip a House seat, bringing national attention to the central New York race. Here’s where the two candidates stand.
PAGE 6
Looking back
From the federal CHIPS and Science Act to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Biden administration policies have directly impacted Syracuse.
PAGE 7
NY-22 campaign finance
The race for NY-22 has commanded millions of dollars from organizations and individuals across the nation. Over $6 million has been raised.
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Dear readers,
In the 2024 United States general elections, around 40.8 million Generation Z members will be eligible to vote — an increase of roughly eight million from the 2022 midterms. This November, college students nationwide will cast their presidential votes for the first time. But the presidency isn’t the only major decision on the ballot this election cycle. While some Syracuse University students will vote absentee or by mail in their home states, others will help decide several local races in Onondaga County. New York’s 22nd Congressional District race between Republican incumbent Rep. Brandon Williams and Democratic challenger State Sen. John Mannion has attracted national attention, as it has the potential to flip the party majority in the House of Representatives. Key issues at the
heart of these local races include the city of Syracuse’s housing crisis, access to abortion, juvenile crime rates and the U.S. southern border. To encourage student participation in these significant elections, several canvassing organizations have emerged on campus to educate and register prospective voters.
The Daily Orange has gathered everything you need to be prepared for Tuesday’s elections, from details on local races and candidates to essential polling information for election day. Our 2024 Election Guide aims to make navigating your first general election a little easier.
Thanks for reading,
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Incumbent Republican Brandon Williams and challenger Democrat John Mannion are vying to represent New York’s 22nd District in the House of Representatives
By Stephanie Wright EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On Tuesday, central New Yorkers will select their next representative for the NY-22 district in the United States House of Representatives. The race — between incumbent republican Rep. Brandon Williams and democratic State Sen. John Mannion — is attracting national attention as the only red House district considered likely to flip blue.
This year, the gap between Democrat and Republican seats in the House is especially narrow, with 220 Republicans, 212 Democrats and three vacancies.
The NY-22 district includes Onondaga and Madison County, and portions of Cayuga, Cortland and Oneida County. It encompasses Syracuse University, SUNY ESF, SUNY Upstate Medical University and other higher education institutions. There are about 771,000 residents in the district, according to 2021 census data from the American Community Survey.
The congressional district was redrawn in February. It’s labeled as “lean democrat” by the Cook Political Report. A FiveThirtyEight poll conducted between Oct. 15 and 17 found Mannion and Williams tied at 46%.
The Daily Orange spoke with Mannion to understand his platforms ahead of election day. Williams’ press secretary did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The D.O.
Below is a breakdown of the two candidates’ positions on top issues for Syracuse residents.
Education
Before Mannion was elected to serve in the New York State Senate in 2020, he worked as a biology teacher and was president of the West Genesee Teachers’ Union. He said seeing his students’ reactions to the 2016 election pushed him to run for office.
As a former teacher, Mannion’s policies on education prioritize student loan forgiveness and affordable education. He said that as state senator, he’s worked to freeze tuition for the SUNY system as well as expand the state-wide Excelsior Scholarship program and TAP benefits.
“We can all agree that college is too expensive, whether it’s private or even public, and we can
address things at the federal level,” Mannion said. “I do think that loan forgiveness is a part of it.”
One potential policy initiative that Mannion highlighted was linking student loan forgiveness to public service sector jobs, which he said would have economic benefits and prevent brain drain.
“We need people to go into public service, whether it be public hospitals or school districts, or beyond, into government, into our state agencies,” Mannion said. “I think that we should tie that public service to loan forgiveness.”
Mannion also addressed concerns about academic freedom on college campuses in light of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at SU this past spring.
“We want to make sure that individuals’ First Amendment rights are protected, and I do believe mostly that Syracuse University, Upstate Medical Center and others did a good job of that,” Mannion said. “I will say that when any of that language crosses into the clear hate or threatening tone, it has to be addressed by those universities, and I think locally, they did a much better job than some other places around this country.”
When the encampment first began on SU’s campus, Williams responded with a post on X, writing, “Demands? I don’t care what your demands are. Get the hell out of our community and never come back. Those are my demands. And the clock is ticking.”
Williams later sent a statement on the GSE to The D.O.
“I take this seriously. If you allow antisemitism to fester on your campus, you’ve made an enemy of me,” Williams wrote in the May statement.
In January, Williams co-sponsored a bill that would mitigate high college costs. The legislation proposed holding colleges accountable for exorbitant tuition costs that cause debt and expanding various student aid options. During the candidates’ first debate in October, Williams said loan forgiveness programs would strain middle-class taxpayers.
As encampments appeared on college campuses across the country, Williams introduced a bill that would deny student loan forgiveness for people who were convicted at the federal or
state level for their actions in campus protests. Williams wrote in a May newsletter that the bill would ensure no taxpayer dollars went to student loan clearances for people convicted at protests. The bill was sent to committee and has not since progressed.
Housing
Both Mannion and Williams have addressed a need for more affordable housing in central New York and nationally.
Williams said his focus is on expanding pathways to home ownership and other affordable housing at the federal level, including public housing. In Syracuse specifically, he pointed to past work with the Syracuse Housing Authority ahead of the Interstate 81 viaduct’s removal.
“For our developers that are out there, if they’re in the private sector, there needs to be incentives in place so that they can make the numbers work for them, not just because we want them to have a profitable business,” Mannion said. “We want the units, and they’re not going to build them if it is not financially viable.”
In September, the House Committee on Appropriations approved Williams’ request to direct $45 million toward various local projects in Syracuse. In recent debates, Williams highlighted his involvement in securing a grant for the East Adams neighborhood of Syracuse and future hopes to continue its revitalization.
The candidates themselves have contrasting histories of living in the district. Mannion was born and grew up in Syracuse, and currently lives in Geddes. Williams was born in Texas and attended college in California. He moved to central New York in 2010 and lives in Sennett, outside of NY-22, according to LegiStorm.
Mannion said addressing the lead problem in housing and schools would be another priority for him if elected to the House seat. He was involved in state-provided funding for lead pipe replacement in the city and said he wants further spending to test for and remediate lead in paint and dust as well.
Micron
Both candidates have expressed support for Micron’s future semiconductor manufacturing facility in Clay, New York. Micron has faced construction delays due to environmental impact review concerns.
Mannion said Micron must adhere to the state’s environmental rules and he has faith they will do so.
“We’re duly aware of what happens when we don’t make our environment a priority, and many of our large employers and our corporations understand that if they’re going to be doing work in our districts, that we want to hold them accountable and make sure that they are functioning in an environmentally friendly way, and that’s what the Green CHIPS legislation does,” Mannion said.
Williams advocated for federal CHIPS and Science Act funding for Micron, though he previously referred to the legislation and similar incentive programs as “corporate welfare.”
National politics
Mannion and Williams have taken opposing stances on certain hot-button national issues. Mannion is pro-choice and is endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Williams is pro-life except in cases of rape, incest and protecting the life of the mother. Though both candidates support in vitro fertilization, Mannion claimed in the third debate that Williams “cannot be trusted” to protect access to it.
Mannion said he believes democracy is “at risk” this election and hopes to work on bipartisan projects if elected. He said his record as chair of the state senate’s committee on disabilities has strengthened his ability to work with colleagues across the aisle.
Both candidates have said in recent debates that they believe President Joe Biden won the 2020 election and that they will vote to certify the results of the upcoming 2024 election.
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Voting locations in Syracuse and other voter information can be found online.
spwright@syr.edu @stephaniwri_
laura lemgruber contributing photographer
BALLOT BREAKDOWN
By Madeline Goodheart ASST. DIGITAL EDITOR
Several candidates, from local to national, and statewide policies are on the ballot for New Yorkers this Election Day
At 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, polling places for the 2024 United States general elections will open up to in-person voters in New York state. From 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., New Yorkers will cast their ballots to determine who will be the next president of the U.S. and decide multiple other local races.
Before then, many will have already voted through New York’s early voting system, which began on Saturday, Oct. 26 and will end on Sunday, Nov. 3 — two days before Election Day. Many will also vote using an absentee ballot, which is a ballot mailed in advance of an election by a voter unable to attend the polls in person.
In order to vote in the general elections, New York voters must have registered by Oct. 26.
One week out from Election Day, The Daily Orange has broken down everything Syracuse University, city of Syracuse and central New York voters need to know before casting their vote.
Proposal Number One
This election’s ballot will vote upon Proposal Number One, an amendment to the state constitution formerly known as the New York Equal Rights Amendment.
The proposal would expand the scope of the state’s antidiscrimination laws. If passed, New York state would legally protect additional identity categories — including age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy status — from discrimination.
The New York State Human Rights Law currently prohibits discrimination on the basis of “age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, marital status or disability” in employment, housing, education, credit and access to public accommodations.
New York’s Republican Party is against the adoption of the proposition, saying that “all bets are off on how far this can go.” Meanwhile, Democrats support the proposition due to its power to codify reproductive rights and provide equal protections for all New Yorkers.
Key policies
Issues that have been at the forefront of the political conversation in Onondaga County include the future of abortion rights within the state and the city of Syracuse’s housing crisis, along with pushing the Syracuse Housing Strategy — which aims to address the city’s housing crisis and market and affordability gap.
The NY-22 Congressional District nominees, Mannion and Williams, discussed these topics in all three of their past televised debates.
Mannion has been outspoken on his belief women-rights issue, rather than a state-rights liams has pushed his pro-life status. Williams with the exceptions of rape, incest and protecting mother. Neither have said they support a national Mannion has also said during the third NY-22 supports the revitalization of the East Adams Syracuse. Williams has contributed to securing grant to support the increase of housing supply.
In New York state’s 48th district, May, the bent, and Republican opponent Slater are facing the area, which encompasses the entirety of along with several other towns in Onondaga Both candidates are focused upon juvenile residents have expressed concern, including glaries. Slater supports long-term investment of the city that are suffering the most, while funding for outreach, including the Boys and Gillibrand is seeking her third six-year term since first being appointed in 2009. She is fighting against GOP challenger Sapraicone. Sapraicone said that, while he is pro-life, he a national abortion ban. He supports access to care and personal insurance. Gillibrand supports efforts to protect a womans’ right to abortion.
Sapraicone also supports a complete closure and wishes to evaluate everybody entering while, Gillibrand calls for right-sizing the system is a correct number of visas for the number of
belief that abortion is a state-rights issue, while WilWilliams said he is pro-life protecting the life of the national abortion ban. NY-22 debate that he Adams neighborhood in securing a $50 million supply. the Democratic incumfacing off to represent of the city of Syracuse County. juvenile crimes about which including car thefts and burinvestment in families in parts while May supports more Girls Clubs. term in the U.S. Senate fighting for re-election he would not support to IVF through Medisupports Prop. 1 and its abortion. closure of the U.S. border the country. Meansystem to ensure there of available jobs.
CANVASSING CLUBS
Local organizations encourage SU students to go to the polls
By Kate Jackson ASST. NEWS EDITOR
By Kate Jackson asst. news editor
As voting deadlines approach for the 2024 United States general elections, canvassing organizations have appeared across Syracuse University’s campus, urging students to make their way to the polls.
Leaders across multiple local political organizations — such as SU’s Connect 315 club and local chapters of League of Women Voters and New York Public Interest Research Group — said they hope to foster community involvement and local political engagement by providing voting resources to students.
Many of these clubs have recently ramped up their on-campus presence by setting up tabling events, passing out information and helping students register to vote.
The Daily Orange spoke with some of these organizations to learn more about their strategies to increase voter turnout.
Connect 315
Students Tommy DaSilva, Anna Mirer, Leah Farrell and Conor Murphy formed Connect 315 in fall 2023 to help bridge the gap between the university community and the surrounding city of Syracuse, DaSilva said.
The four students originally hatched the idea in their freshman year while taking PST 101: An Introduction to the Analysis of Public Policy, DaSilva said. They were inspired after hearing a guest lecture from the Director of the East Adams Neighborhood Redevelopment Sarah Walton, who discussed ways to encourage community involvement.
dential and local elections. The drive was purposely held the week of National Voters Registration Day on Sept. 16.
“Especially as college students, we’re here almost longer than we are actually at our home states and home jurisdictions,” DaSilva said. “We should be acknowledging the local issues going on in this community and the local change-makers who can be fixing those issues.”
League of Women Voters
LWV, which focuses on voter education and advocacy for local issues, encourages community members to vote in every election, not just national ones, said Joan Durant, director of voter services.
As part of its voter initiative, LWV goes to local college campuses like SU and Onondaga Community College for tabling events to provide voter registration information. The group helps both students planning to vote locally and those sending absentee ballots.
Especially as college students, we’re here almost longer than we are actually at our home states and home jurisdictions.
voter registration efforts, NYPIRG campaigns for affordable healthcare, environmental initiatives and widespread access to higher education, especially for low-income students.
One of the organization’s goals is to recruit student volunteers from SU as NYPIRG interns and teach them how to be political activists, said Reece Holt, project coordinator for SU and SUNY ESF.
Every week, NYPIRG organizes a group of volunteers to talk to students about voting on campus; this includes approaching students directly, setting up tables with voting resources or going around to different SU classes to give brief presentations. The organization aims to influence community members by maintaining a physical presence on campus, Holt said.
In addition to the Sept. 20 voter registration drive, NYPIRG hosted a voter registration movie night, where the price of admission was a completed voter registration form. They also hosted “Drag Out The Vote,” a drag show with the same admission process.
“Having students help us with ideas and planning, you get really creative with ways to get people civically engaged,” Holt said.
Student volunteers are better equipped to connect and relate to the campus community, Holt said. He said many students are exhausted from the academic pressures they face in school, so voting becomes less of a priority.
Connect 315 became a registered student organization in spring 2024 and started initiatives in support of the ongoing Interstate 81 viaduct removal project. Now, the club is prioritizing student voter registration, which wasn’t part of its original mission.
“Voting is one of the best ways to have your voice heard,” DaSilva, the club’s current vice president, said. “(It’s) an important part of being involved in your community and being an engaged citizen.”
Connect 315 partnered with LWV, NYPIRG and Unite New York to hold a voter registration drive on Sept. 20 during SU’s football game against Stanford. Student volunteers at the drive helped educate game attendees on voting requirements and encouraged them to register as they passed by.
DaSilva said the drive was meant to stress the importance of student involvement in both the presi-
LWV also prioritizes high school outreach to educate students on how voting works before they become eligible, Durant said. She said part of LWV’s outreach includes presentations at local schools where volunteers can talk with students and address any concerns they have.
Durant said there are many factors that contribute to whether people vote. She highlighted how many community members are reluctant because they think their vote won’t impact the results.
“I think it’s important that people get out to vote every year,” Durant said. “I hear too many times that I vote every four years. Well, yeah, this is an important election. Every election is important. Our local elections control what happens to us on a day-to-day basis.”
New York Public Interest Research Group
NYPIRG is a nonprofit, research and public education organization founded in 1976. Along with
Holt said he’s talked with plenty of students who feel discouraged about the upcoming election, especially with the amount of political violence they see through social media. But as canvassers continue to build connections with students and explain how to vote and why it’s important, they become much more receptive, Holt said.
NYPIRG measures its canvassing success by comparing how many students they contact with how many they help register. Canvassers’ assessment of their interactions with students — whether they responded positively — is also taken into account. In the 2022 general election, the national youth voter turnout was around 20% for New York state. Holt said that, if they can get that number up even by one or two percentage points, it would be a success in his eyes.
“I want to see more students use their voice,” Holt said. “A vote cast is a voice amplified. You are lending who you are to an issue you care about by voting (for) a candidate that aligns with those issues as well.”
kjacks19@syr.edi
Tommy DaSilva su student and connect 315 club member
MAGNARELLI RUNS FOR 14TH TERM
Longtime New York State Assemblyman William “Bill” Magnarelli, set to begin his 14th term in 2025, first began campaigning in grade school.
As a child, Magnarelli and his two brothers would walk down Butternut Street of Syracuse’s North Side, then home to a conservative Italian community, asking businesses to post campaign flyers for their uncle, Armond Magnarelli — a Democrat who was running for the Syracuse City Common Council. Neighbors weren’t friendly at first.
“When I was in grade school, and in high school, and in college, he would ask us to put posters up for him,” Magnarelli said. “I’d walk in and people would get mad at us and say, ‘I’m not putting that sign up.’ And they’d start talking bad about Armond.”
Eventually, business owners showed mercy on the three brothers and the Democrat’s posters lined the streets of a predominantly Republican neighborhood. For the young Magnarelli, this experience solidified his goal of pursuing a political career — one which has now spanned over 25 years.
On the ballot for the 2024 United States general elections, several Onondaga County voters will see Magnarelli listed as the lone candidate for the state’s 129th Assembly District — which encompasses multiple neighborhoods in Syracuse, as well as Geddes, Solvay, Van Buren and a portion of Baldwinsville.
Unless a write-in candidate receives more votes, Magnarelli will be re-elected, marking his 26th year representing the district in the assembly. Throughout his decades-long career, he said his policy goals have remained the same — improving access to healthcare, education and jobs.
Magnarelli grew up in Syracuse and received both his bachelor’s and a law degree from Syracuse University. He served in the Army Reserve for six years, where he eventually became a captain. The assemblyman is also a licensed lawyer and practices real estate law with Scolaro Fetter Grizanti & McGough, P.C.
Ann Magnarelli, his daughter, said that early in his early political career, Magnarelli had to work hard to transition from lawyer to politician.When he first took office in the Syracuse City Common Council, the conversational aspect of the position didn’t come naturally, she said.
“He ran for the Common Council when my brother and I were still in high school. That’s where he started his political career, and it was exciting,” Ann Magnarelli said. “He was terrible at small talk in the beginning, and he really had to come out of his shell to get good at that.”
Ann Magnarelli said she watched her father work six-to-seven-day weeks growing up, but he never missed any of his three children’s sports games or school performances. She also said the Magnarelli family would always find time to eat family dinner at 6:30 p.m. every night despite their father’s busy schedule.
She said politics and current events were a common discussion at the table. Ann Magnarelli, who currently works as a Syracuse City Court Judge, closely followed her father’s path — attending SU for
Bill Magnarelli, a lifelong Syracuse resident, has held office in the New York State Assembly since 1998
By Julia Boehning NEWS EDITOR
graduate and law school before working as an attorney and eventually taking a job in the public sector.
Over the years, Magnarelli said he’s witnessed the city’s economy worsen. In the 1950s, when he was growing up, companies like General Motors, Chrysler, General Electric and Syracuse China operated factories throughout central New York — many of which are now closed. Today, the city has an almost 30% poverty rate, significantly higher than the national average.
“When I was a kid … we had a lot of prosperity in terms of that people were working,” Magnarelli said. “We are talking about tens of thousands of jobs that left Syracuse. Now, we have the opportunity to bring those jobs back.”
Along with the city’s economic changes, Magnarelli also said he’s watched generations move in and out of the district he serves. Still, he said the city has maintained its character as a “melting pot,” as it continues to house diverse immigrant
populations. He said he hopes some of the city’s impending economic prospects, like the arrival of Micron Technology, will revitalize the city.
Over the years, Magnarelli has been involved with many policies related to education, including the establishment of a “Say Yes to Education” program for Syracuse in 2008 and the Syracuse STEAM School in 2023.
In his next prospective term, Magnarelli said he hopes to mitigate the city’s high rate of chronic absenteeism in public schools. He said improving education in the city will have a positive impact on the economy.
Magnarelli’s other legislative focuses are healthcare, tax rates, resources for veterans and other community improvements — including the city’s relationship with SU. He was involved with securing $20 million in state funding for the Connective Corridor in 2008 and $2 million for Landmark Theater’s restoration in 2019.
Assemblyman Al Stirpe, who represents the adjacent 127 district, said newly-elected assembly members often look to Magnarelli for guidance due to his experience in office. Stirpe referred to Magnarelli as one of the early mentors in his political career, as he wasn’t elected into the assembly until 2006.
Before he ran for office, Stirpe met with Magnarelli. The two had a connection already since Magnarelli went to high school with Stirpe’s sister-in-law. At the time, Stirpe said he was contemplating whether running for public office would be worth it.
“Bill seemed like a lawyer. He was careful about what he said,” Stirpe said. “But one of the first things I asked him was, ‘Do you think you can really make any difference in this position?’ And then he kind of lit up a little bit, and he said, ‘Yes, I really feel you can.’”
Stirpe and Magnarelli have worked together in the assembly ever since. Even when Stirpe wasn’t re-elected for the 2010-12 election cycle, Magnarelli kept him in the loop about the goings on of the state legislature and invited him to different political events, Stirpe said. Stirpe was reelected after those two years and has continued to hold office in the assembly.
While in the assembly together, the two have collaborated on many policies. In March, the pair said they’d vote “no” on a statewide “Good Cause Eviction” mandate. Stirpe said he and Magnarelli supported some of the tenant protections listed in the bill but feared its rent increase limitations would discourage developers from building more affordable housing.
Stirpe said Magnarelli’s enthusiasm leaves an impression on others. When he gets upset, Stirpe said Magnarelli often jokes that “he goes Italian on them.” Stirpe recalled a time when Magnarelli advocated for New York to opt into NIL legislation for college athletes, something he was especially passionate about as a fan of SU sports.
“He went Italian on them. He started raising his voice and going, ‘You know how important this is?’,” Stirpe said. “He just kept going on and on, and I had to sort of pull him back a little bit. But the end result of that was we got the bill passed.” Stirpe said he and Magnarelli have had several “big disagreements” over policy, specifically regarding how to approach the Interstate 81 viaduct removal efforts and the establishment of central New York’s inland port. But they continue to work together, and frequently go out to dinner together when the assembly is in session, Stirpe said.
Magnarelli said he hopes to continue bringing his extensive knowledge of the Syracuse community to the assembly. He said that, though the composition of the city has changed, his goals have remained the same throughout his overquarter-century career.
“Four years on the Common Council, 26 years in the Assembly, is kind of hard to come by, and I’ve worked hard at it,” Magnarelli said. “I would hope that one of the reasons why I’m unopposed this time is that people are happy with what I do.” jmboehni@syr.edu @juliaboehning
SYRACUSE POLICIES UNDER BIDEN
By Zaara Malik ASST. DIGITAL EDITOR and Kate Jackson ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Before he took on the role as the nation’s commander-in-chief, President Joe Biden’s connections to central New York primarily lay in his status as an alumnus of Syracuse University’s College of Law.
As he nears the end of his four-year presidency, Biden has left a lasting impact on the city of Syracuse and the surrounding region, implementing multiple policies that brought noticeable change to the area.
The Biden administration’s primary impacts on Syracuse have centered around infrastructure projects and facilitating the arrival of Micron Technology, positioning the region to become a workforce hub for the incoming semiconductor manufacturing industry.
Infrastructure In 2021, Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, now the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allocated $1.2 trillion for improvements in infrastructure across the United States. Within the legislation, the Syracuse Hancock International Airport received $27.3 million.
Additionally, $55.8 million went toward Syracuse Centro Public Transportation to aid its driver shortage, which caused a shorter bus
schedule and created inconvenience for residents who relied on public transportation.
Announced on Aug. 22, $30 million in BIL funding was awarded to 30 communities throughout New York to improve water infrastructure by beginning to identify and replace lead piping throughout the state. Syracuse received around $3.2 million for sanitary sewer system improvements.
The Biden administration’s BIL legislation has also funded projects related to the Interstate 81 viaduct removal project. The 2021 bill also granted $11.5 billion in highway funding to New York state for the reformation of the I-81 Viaduct Project and other transportation projects.
Most recently, in March, the Biden administration approved a $180 million grant to Syracuse and the New York State Department of Transportation for the I-81 project — intended to address the structural deficiencies and mitigate the historical harms of the overpass.
The award — part of the U.S. DOT’s Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant program — was allocated toward improving street transportation to reconnect the neighborhoods affected by the viaduct and improve the “quality of life in disadvantaged communities” within the city, according to a press release.
The bill also implemented the U.S. DOT’s Capital Investment Grants program, which
provided $55.8 million to the Bus Rapid Transit in Syracuse. The program created a bus service that runs on a more frequent and fixed schedule.
Semiconductor manufacturing
In August 2022, the CHIPS and Science Act, a federal bill passed to incentivize investment in domestic semiconductor manufacturing, was signed into law. The legislation paved the way for Micron’s $100 billion investment into central New York through the construction of a semiconductor fabrication facility in Clay, New York — just 10 minutes away from Syracuse.
The semiconductor manufacturing facility is estimated to bring 9,000 jobs to the area and 50,000 jobs affiliated with the project, according to Micron’s website. In April, Biden announced that the Micron project would receive a $6.1 billion CHIPS grant and named central New York as one of four Investing in America “Workforce Hubs.” That month, he visited Syracuse to discuss the investments.
Alongside specific investments into Micron, the Biden administration also established the Syracuse-Rochester-Buffalo region as one of 31 national technology hubs — labeling the area as a place of growth throughout the technology industry — in October 2023.
The Tech Hubs program, part of the CHIPS program, allows for technology hub-designated cities to qualify for $50-$75 million to move forward into Phase 2, helping the tech hub to gain more investment in the future.
In April, Biden visited Syracuse to tout his $6.1 billion grant to Micron under the CHIPS and Science Act for its proposed semiconductor manufacturing complex. He spoke about Micron’s role in mobilizing the region’s economy.
Additionally, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo were awarded a $40 million grant after winning the Biden administration’s federal “Tech Hub” competition in July. The funds will go directly toward the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor initiative.
In September, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded $30 million to the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub, a New York state-based microtechnology development consortium, funded through the CHIPS act. Micron is also planning to collaborate with multiple local universities, including SU and Onondaga Community College, to provide microtechnology workforce development opportunities for their students.
news@dailyorange.com
aaron hammer staff photographer
FOLLOWING THE FUNDS
Breaking down financial contributions behind the NY-22 House race
By Duncan Green ASST. NEWS EDITOR
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.
From 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 2010 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.
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.
In the last five election cycles, the NY-22 congressional seat has flipped three times. Unlike recent races in this district, Mannion and Williams have remained neck and neck in campaign fundraising to the final days of their campaigns.
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.
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.
American Israel Public Affairs Committee, William’s largest PAC donor, has only given 35% of its funds to Republican candidates this election cycle. 35%
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
84% of contributions to the
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
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.
digreen@syr.edu @duncanigreen
Mannion campaign were made by individuals, not PACs.
VOTER INFO CHEAT SHEET
People voting outside of Onondaga County must request an absentee ballot, a mailed ballot used when voters are not willing or able to go to their assigned polling location in person.
Directions on how to request an absentee ballot vary by state. Voters will need to check their state’s requirements. In many states, including New York, the deadline to request an absentee ballot has already passed.
Completed absentee ballots can be sent by mail to the registered county election office and must be received by Election Day. Some states also have in-person ballot return options, where absentee ballots can be dropped off at a local election office or dropbox location. New York does not provide a dropbox option.
Early voting follows the same process as voting in person on Election Day. Voters registered within Onondaga County are eligible to vote early at any of the 10 sites in the county. Early voting began on Oct. 26 and will run until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day. Sites closest to SU’s campus include the Beauchamp Branch Library and the Syracuse Community Connections building.
Remaining dates
Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.
Remaining Times
Thursday, Oct. 31: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 3: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Locations (closest to farthest from SU campus)
• Beauchamp Branch Library
• Syracuse Community Connection
• Armond Magnarelli Community Center at McChesney Park
• Onondaga Community College - Mulroy Hall
• DeWitt Town Hall Courtroom
• North Syracuse Community Center
• Camillus Fire Department (Rear Entrance)
• LaFayette Fire Station #1 (Rear Entrance)
• Lysander Municipal Building
• Clay Town Hall Courtroom (Rear Entrance)
Polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5 and close at 9 p.m.
There are 146 polling places in Onondaga County, including 44 in the city of Syracuse. There are only two at SU — Huntington Hall on North Campus and Goldstein Student Center on South Campus.
Voters can check their assigned poll site on the New York State Board of Elections’ “Poll Site Search, Voter Registration, and Mail Ballot Tracker,” which can be found on its website, or by scanning the QR code below.
According to the American Psychological Association’s “Stress in America 2024” survey, 69% of adults across the country cited the 2024 United States presidential election as a “significant source of stress.” Even more — around 77% — said they were stressed about the “future of our nation.”
The APA reported that this anxiety has increased over the past two election cycles. In 2016, the percentage of Americans who were significantly stressed about the presidential elections sat at about 52%.
SU students, many of whom will be first-time presidential election voters, can access on-campus mental health services through SU’s Barnes Center at The Arch. Some of these resources include individual and group counseling, pet therapy and multiple mindfulness-related offerings. Barnes can be reached at all hours of the day at 315.443.8000.
Barnes also offers students a free premium subscription to Headspace — a self-guided mental health support app — through the university on a first-come, first-serve basis. Headspace currently offers a “Politics Without Panic: Your election season survival guide” module.
Hendricks Chapel also offers multiple religious and spiritual
