Former Vice President and Democratic Nominee for President Joe Biden endorsed democrat Dana Balter for the NY-24 congressional race Wednesday. Balter is hoping to unseat three-term republican Rep. John Katko in November. Balter lost the race against Katko in 2018, but won the democratic primary this July after not receiving the Onondaga County Democratic Party’s endorsement.
Balter is the first down-ballot congressional endorsement of Biden’s campaign. Biden was named the democratic nominee for president at the party’s national convention in Milwaukee last Thursday.
“I am incredibly honored to receive Vice President Biden’s endorsement,” Balter said in a campaign press release. “Vice President Biden has always been on the side of working families, and the impact of his accomplishments cannot be understated.”
She emphasized Biden’s experience in the field of health care legislation, an issue that Katko has repeatedly attacked Balter on. Balter has supported Medicare for All previously, but Biden said he would not sign such a measure as president.
“Because of the Vice President’s role in passing the Affordable Care Act, 20 more million Americans have health insurance, and people with pre-existing conditions — like myself — can no longer be denied coverage. I look forward to fighting alongside him to continue expanding health coverage to every American,” she said.
NY-24 has been named one of the most vulnerable districts in the country for republicans to loose in the 2020 elections by some analysts. Balter and Katko will face off for a second time at the ballot box on Nov. 3.