Aug 19, 2022 — Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 23 to cast ballots in the NYS Senate and U.S. Congressional races. In the North Country, two Democrats are facing off to challenge Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik this November.

Matt Castelli is a former CIA officer and Matt Putorti is an attorney who grew up in Whitehall. We asked them where they stand on certain key issues including gun control and climate change and what their campaign strategies will be if they become the Democratic nominee.

What do you see as the main difference between you and your primary opponent?

MATT PUTORTI: I didn’t move to this district to run for office. I am a fifth-generation Whitehaller, and the only candidate in this race who was born and raised in this district, who went to public school in the district, and who voted in the district prior to running. This race is personal to me, and my intentions to serve my community are genuine. My deep roots here give a unique advantage for taking on Stefanik. 

I have publicly and consistently stated that I will support the Democratic nominee. My opponent has never made that commitment. In fact, he created a “Moderate” ballot line and has indicated his intention to run on that line if he fails to earn the Democratic nomination, thereby becoming a spoiler and helping Stefanik’s chance of victory. 

MATT CASTELLI: I am the only candidate in this race who can defeat Elise Stefanik in November. I am the only candidate who has spent their entire career serving their country and community — something that stands in stark contrast to Stefanik’s service to self.

I am the only candidate in this primary who has the support of the Democratic Party, who has been endorsed by labor (including NYSUT and UAW Region 9), sitting and former members of Congress, and national organizations such as VoteVets and Taking the Hill. And, unlike for my primary opponent, there will be no learning curve for me once in office, as I have already served at the highest levels of government.

How do you think you could appeal to the more moderate and conservative voters that make up a majority of the electorate in NY-21?

CASTELLI: My campaign is the only one in this primary working to build the necessary coalition of voters across the political spectrum including progressives, moderates, independents, and conservatives. We have demonstrated our ability to do this by creating an independent line, called the Moderate Party, which thanks to fusion voting gives voters who may be hesitant to vote for someone with a (D) next to their name an opportunity to vote for Castelli in November. We are also the only candidate in this primary doing the hard work of meeting with voters of all political leanings, to listen to and amplify the concerns of everyone in the District.

PUTORTI: NY-21 is, actually, a competitive district and Elise Stefanik is more vulnerable this year than she has ever been because she is so extreme and doesn’t care about the needs of this district. This district hasn’t suffered from a lack of moderation; it has suffered from a lack of representation. We are desperate for a representative who cares more about our common good than herself, and the electorate in NY-21 will vote for the person who they know will advocate best for them. 

That is why building a coalition of Republican, Democratic, and unaffiliated voters is possible when we focus on the solutions that will address the issues that are important in Northern New York: combating inflation and rising costs, lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs, building affordable and quality housing, conserving our environment, protecting our individual rights, and making our communities safe through commonsense gun safety laws. 

There’s a shortage of teachers and health care workers in the United States. What would you support to address that issue?

PUTORTI: I support efforts to pay our nurses and teachers more and to provide them with the professional support they need; they are vital to the health and education of our communities, and their pay does not reflect their value. I would propose a local, state, and federal partnership with our BOCES and technical school programs to help train, educate, and certify future nurses and health care workers. I support grant-based or community-funded two-year community college or SUNY tuition assistance for students seeking employment in a shortage industry and who commit to regional jobs for five or more years, public service student loan forgiveness programs, and programs that incentivize nurses and teachers to work in rural America. 

CASTELLI: The first step is to start treating teachers and health care workers with the same level of respect and gratitude for their service that we do our veterans. We need to do more to recruit, train, compensate, and retain teachers and health care workers — including raising pay, increasing resources for our schools and health care settings, and ensuring safe work environments.

What more do you think needs to be done to address climate change in the United States? How would you pay for that?

CASTELLI: Climate change poses one of the most significant threats to our communities' health and well-being, while also being a direct threat to our economy and national security. The 21st District, which is home to the Adirondacks, relies on a stable climate and conservation of our environment for a vibrant tourist industry and strong agricultural industry — all of which are threatened by climate change. We also know that NY-21 has the capacity to be a leader in green technology — allowing for good-paying jobs to come into the district — and we must invest in new technology opportunities to do so.

We know that we are seeing the current impacts of our singular reliance on fossil fuels in the increased cost at the pump and we need to transition away from our dependence on fossil fuels, allowing the U.S. to become more competitive and independent, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We must stabilize our climate for the sake of our farms, our families, and our future. I am committed to always seeking counsel and input from organizations like the Adirondack Council and the League of Conservation Voters.

PUTORTI: Climate change is an existential threat. That is why I am glad the Inflation Reduction Act is now law, even though Stefanik voted against it. The IRA is the most significant investment in history to combat climate change that also works to lower out-of-pocket costs for families. 

There is, however, much more work to be done — and we need to ensure the solutions fit life in Northern New York, too. I would support legislation to eliminate subsidies and tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry, fund research into clean energy and climate action, fully staff and fully fund the Environmental Protect Agency, help our farms implement environmentally sustainable practices, and incentivize clean energy technology production in the North Country. We have the talent, the skills, and the workforce to be a leader in clean energy. In Congress, I will work to ensure those jobs of the future come to Northern New York.

As with the IRA, this work can be funded through closing tax loopholes that continue to allow corporations and the ultra-wealthy to pay less percentage in tax than the rest of us. 

In your mind, what are the most effective gun control measures to pass to address rising crime and mass shootings?

PUTORTI: As a lawyer, I devoted significant pro bono efforts working with the Giffords Center to Reduce Gun Violence, an organization led by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Through that work, we advocated for commonsense, popular measures that research confirms will reduce gun violence in America — but that also will not infringe on the Second Amendment, which I support. 

In addition to supporting a federal assault weapons ban (the only candidate in this race to do so), I also support universal background checks, red flag laws, closing the gun show loophole, and repealing the liability protection afforded to the gun industry through the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. I also support ending the corruptive and corrosive influence of corporate money in our elections. 

CASTELLI: The coalition of law-abiding owners, those of us who support the Second Amendment, and those who want to keep our kids and communities safe agree on keeping any firearm out of the hands of someone that will do themselves and others harm. We can achieve this through commonsense solutions like universal background checks and robust red flag laws, and ensuring that those with domestic violence charges do not have access to a firearm. 

Congress may consider the Farm Workforce Modernization Act later this year. Farmworker advocates in Upstate NY are against it as it's currently written, saying there are not enough protections to prevent the exploitation of guest workers and workers already here in a vulnerable situation. Will you support it? Why or why not? What should be done about the hundreds or thousands of Mexican and Central American employees working illegally on dairy farms across the North Country?

CASTELLI: The diverse needs of the industry and district make it clear to me the importance of having a Member of Congress who will sit on the House Agriculture Committee. That is why I would apply to be on the Ag Committee; to ensure I am involved in any legislation that would bring resources to our District’s agricultural community. 

We know that upstate New York farms rely on guest labor to keep our farms running and our food supply chain functioning and resilient. That means we need to ensure there are measures to incorporate these workers into our formal economy, make it easier for workers and employers to access the proper visas, and protect against the exploitation of workers who do come to NY-21.

PUTORTI: I would support the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act. I grew up in Washington County, which is home to many farms, and my brother-in-law comes from a dairy farming family. I understand the issues our farms are facing, and this legislation takes significant steps to help fix those associated with staffing. Streamlining the H2-A visa program will help our small farms acquire the workforce they need when they need it and provide stability and certainty for migrant workers. The expansions made by this bill to move H2-A from a seasonal program to a year-round program will allow our dairy farmers to finally participate and will provide hardworking guest workers with a path to legal status. 

If elected, would you support Nancy Pelosi for another term as House Speaker? If not, what would you be looking for in the next leader of the House?

PUTORTI: I will approach the decision about who should be our next House Speaker the same way I would address every decision in Congress: I will evaluate the options present at the time and choose who I think would best help me advocate for the North Country. 

CASTELLI: I will not support Nancy Pelosi for another term as House Speaker. Washington is broken and we need new leadership across the board, including new leadership for NY-21.