The Young Democrats of America (YDA) congratulate Congresswoman-Elect Kathy Hochul on her victory in yesterday’s special election in New York.  Congresswoman-Elect Hochul not only ran an impressive campaign, but she spoke to the people of her district with a clarity of conviction that resonated with voters across the political spectrum.

“The voters in New York have sent a strong signal that the misplaced values of John Boehner, Paul Ryan and the new Republican House majority are being strongly rejected by the American people,“ said YDA President Rod Snyder. “Congresswoman-Elect Hochul will be a fierce advocate for all of her constituents, fighting to preserve our commitments to education, job creation, and health care for young and old alike.”

YDA National Committeewoman Stephanie Hausner of New York added, “”I am so proud of all the work the Young Democrats and our partner organizations did to lead Congresswoman-elect Kathy Hochul to an incredible win yesterday, putting another New York woman in the House of Representatives and giving the residents of the 26th district a passionate voice in Congress. Hochul’s win is not just one for NY-26, but also is a win for young people and seniors, as we stand together showing Republican leadership that you cannot take away essential programs like Medicare.”

“The victory in NY-26 means a lot to not only our organization but our state and nation alike”, said New York State Young Democrats President Kevin Lawrie.  “Kathy understands what matters to real people, and clearly the attack on our Medicare programs by the House GOP was unacceptable to western New Yorkers.  Our chapters from Manhattan to Erie worked together to ensure that Kathy Hochul was elected to the United States Congress, and as a resident of this region I’m excited to have a new voice fighting for us in Washington.”

Over the next 18 months, the Young Democrats of America will join with allied organizations to underscore the real threat that the Republican agenda poses to Americans of all ages.  We will stand united across generations to ensure that Medicare continues to remain the earned safety-net that it was intended to be.