Local congressional debates get heated over Trump policies

While not on the ballot, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and his policies were a big talking point for candidates during New York’s 22nd and 24th congressional debates.

Incumbent Claudia Tenney (R) was forced to go on the defensive against her Democratic opponent in the 24th district, the area that covers Oswego County. Alissa Ellman challenged the 10-year congresswoman on her support for the Trump tariffs and the Iran War. Democratic incumbent John Mannion and his GOP challenger in New York’s 22nd district, Kailee Buller, sparred over the Iran War, connections to the Trump administration, the worsening economy amongst other things, in an hour-long debate session.

In the debate between Mannion and Buller, hosted by CNY Central at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, both candidates expressed opposition to a prolonged war with Iran. 

However, Buller argued that Iran should never be able to obtain nuclear weapons while expressing concerns about the financial costs of the war, rising gas prices and the possibility of American troops being deployed. Mannion, on the other hand, criticized Trump for beginning the war without congressional authorization, a coalition of partners, or a clear exit strategy.

9% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans nationwide support the War in Iran, according to a Pew Research poll released on Oct. 8, making Buller’s opposition to the war a unique one in Republican circles, but possibly a move to appeal to voters in a solid blue district of the Northern Syracuse suburbs.

In the 24th Congressional District debate, which was hosted by News 8 WROC in their Rochester studio, Tenney took a hardline stance on the wars in Iran and Ukraine, even departing from Trump’s position on continued support for Ukraine.

“I don’t completely agree with the president’s position. I think we need to defend and support Ukraine to the extent we can,” Tenney said. She also argued that the United States could not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, emphasizing the threat she believes the country poses to U.S. allies and national security.

Ellman also expressed support for Ukraine, but criticized Tenney for her continued support of Trump. She pointed to Tenney’s support for making Trump’s birthday a national holiday and accused the president of violating U.S. law by purchasing Russian oil. On Iran, Ellman again criticized both Trump and Tenney, arguing that the war should never have happened. She also challenged the administration’s claims about having already destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Debate moderator, Adam Chodak, questioned Ellman about her position on tariffs, asking whether she agreed with past Democratic leaders and union members who had supported targeted tariffs or aligned with the Democratic Party’s current criticism of tariffs for contributing to rising prices.

Ellman went with the latter, claiming she had not met anyone in the largely rural Republican district who supported tariffs, arguing they hurt local farmers and tourism businesses that rely on Canadian visitors and supplies.

Tenney defended her support for targeted tariffs, recalling a 2016 conversation in which House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised an article she wrote on fair trade and bringing supply chains back from China. Tenney argued that Trump’s tariffs were helping bring supply chains back to the United States and encouraging economic growth in Upstate New York. However, she clarified that she did not agree with all of Trump’s tariffs, only those she believed were beneficial to American industries.

Tariffs have had a big economic impact on Upstate New York. According to State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, New York’s exports to Canada declined by $3.8 billion in 2025, while travel from Canada into the state fell by 21.2%, around the same time the first rounds of tariffs were implemented by the Trump administration. 

Back in the NY-22 debate, both candidates took shots at each other over the tariff issue. Mannion claimed that Trump’s unpredictable trade policies were driving up grocery prices and increasing costs for farmers, while Buller backed up what Tenney had claimed, defending the targeted tariffs as a way to strengthen American businesses and bring supply chains back to the United States, but also acknowledged that she did not support all of Trump’s tariffs and called for greater congressional oversight of trade policy.

Electric and energy bills were another point of contention in the NY-22 debate. Buller blamed New York’s climate policies for contributing to rising utility costs and criticized Mannion for supporting the state’s current emission-free energy goal as well as the closing of the Indian Point Nuclear Station. She advocated for an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that includes natural gas, nuclear power, wind and solar. Mannion, meanwhile, argued that expanding energy generation, particularly renewable energy, is necessary to bring costs down. 

Although President Donald Trump was not on the ballot, his policies remained a central issue in both congressional debates. From the Iran War and continued support for Ukraine to tariffs and rising energy costs, the candidates repeatedly clashed over the impact of the administration’s decisions on Americans and Upstate New York.