WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, FreedomWorks PAC announced a campaign seeking to educate voters in New York’s 26th congressional district concerning self-proclaimed “tea party candidate” Jack Davis’ real record as a big government liberal.
Davis is running against Democrat Kathy Hochul and Republican Jane Corwin in a May 24th special election to fill the currently vacant NY-26 seat. Though Davis is running on a “Tea Party” ballot line, his past record illustrates a political philosophy diametrically opposed to the limited government mission of the true tea party movement.
Davis is a frequent candidate in NY-26, but in 2004, 2006, and 2008 ran as a Democrat. He endorsed Barack Obama for President in 2008 and had reciprocal support in the past from Obama as well as prominent New York Democrats including Rep. Charlie Rangel (D, NY-15). Davis has been vocal in support of tax increases and is staunchly protectionist; cutting sharply against the free market, fiscally conservative agenda of the tea party.
Many speculate that given Davis’ strong Democrat ties, his presence in the race as a tea party candidate is a deliberate ploy to split the Republican vote and deliver a Democrat victory. This was the case in multiple races in 2010, where it was discovered that Democrat operatives and even high profile political figures such as former Congressman Alan Grayson of Florida, a Democrat and outspoken big government liberal, were funneling money and support to fake tea party groups in order to confuse the conservative voting base and undermine targeted Republican candidates. Recent polling by the Siena Research Institute shows Davis garnering more Republican votes than Democrat, giving more credence to the idea that Democrats may be seeking to leverage similar smokescreen tactics again in this race.
Heavy television and radio advertising campaigns surrounding the NY-26 race are now heating up. FreedomWorks PAC however, is engaging a boots-on-the-ground, grassroots strategy that will leverage its membership base in the district in concert with allied tea party groups such as “TEANewYork” to spread the word concerning Davis’ big government leanings and the danger of handing liberals a victory if conservative voters are divided.
FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe commented, “The voters in New York’s 26th Congressional District have a serious decision to make concerning who will represent them in the House of Representatives. Out of respect for this decision, the candidates have a responsibility to be honest about their positions on the issues. Considering Jack Davis’ leftist resume, his candidacy as a ‘tea party’ candidate is either a sad attempt to raise his own personal political profile or an underhanded strategy to hand the seat to the Democrat contender. Either way, it’s a slap in the face to New York 26 voters and the larger tea party movement and FreedomWorks PAC will ensure that this message is delivered throughout the district in advance of the May 24th special election.”