Hudson Valley State Assemblyman Colin Schmitthas launched a challenge against Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney of the 18th district. A Republican, Schmitt is in his second term representing the 99th district, while Maloney has been in the House since 2013.
“I’m a local guy, I grew up here in the Hudson Valley,” said Schmitt, also a sergeant in the New York State Army National Guard. “I originally ran for the State Assembly to make sure we had a voice defending the Hudson Valley in Albany.”
Schmitt said he has worked in a bipartisan manner in Albany, something he said Maloney has not done as a congressman.
“In contrast, my opponent Sean Patrick Maloney votes 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi. He sold us out by turning his back on local law enforcement to appease the radical left,” said Schmitt. “That is unacceptable. We deserve a congressman, not a Democratic campaign chairman.”
If he defeats Maloney, Schmitt said he wants to bring jobs to region, enhance respect of law enforcement and work to relieve property taxes.
“We also need relieve the property tax burden, starting with Federal government doing its role and repealing the SALT cap,” he said.
Meanwhile, Orange County Democratic Chairman Brett Broge said Schmitt is “bad for the Hudson Valley and bad for New York’s 18th Congressional District.”
Broge said on January 6, the day of the Capitol riot, Schmitt “cheered on busloads of people driving down to Washington, D.C. to participate in a violent riot incited by former President Trump’s Big Lie that the election was stolen – the lie which Schmitt has still not denounced.”
