Days after Groundhog Day, Congresswoman Sarahana Shrestha experienced a different kind of deja vu when Gabi Madden launched a preliminary challenge against her. Madden previously served as chief of staff to former Rep. Kevin Cahill, the seat Shrestha won in 2022. Now, both candidates are preparing for primaries that will revive the debate over the interaction between the upstate progressive movement and more moderate Democratic forces.
Mr. Madden has close ties to the Democratic establishment in the 103rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Ulster and Dutchess counties in the Hudson Valley. In addition to working for Mr. Cahill, she also worked as deputy chief of staff to state Sen. James Skoufis, chairman of the state Senate Investigations Committee.
At a campaign launch event in Kingston on Thursday, Madden received support from Skoufis and Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, whose family has been involved in local politics for decades. Her campaign slogan is “Results, Not Rhetoric,” and Shrestha is more focused on supporting big progressive legislation in Albany than pursuing policy for her district. suggested.
“I have a hopeful vision of leaders who speak less and listen more, leaders who build platforms and portfolios that reflect the priorities of all the people they are elected to represent, and who want our community to grow. I see… leaders who recognize that good governance is not achieved by making demands, but rather by creating understanding.” said Madden.
Madden appealed to what she characterized as the “silent majority” of voters in her district who want to protect suburban life from progressive policies coming out of Albany and New York City. “The only way forward is through the power of the silent majority,” she said. “The silent majority sees this house as an exception to the rest of the state.”
Shrestha, a democratic socialist, won a close race in 2022, helped by growing support from progressive voters in the Hudson Valley. In her campaign, she emphasized climate issues, housing, and health care with the slogan “The future must be beautiful.” During her tenure, she has supported bills such as “just cause” evictions and the Public Renewable Energy Construction Act, among other progressive bills.
With support from the Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and the local progressive activist organization For the Many, her campaign mobilized an impressive field day filled with volunteers spread throughout the district.
Shrestha, the only DSA state representative from upstate New York, said he knows challenging the status quo won't go unnoticed. “They're not going to give up that easily,” he said of mainstream Democrats who oppose his progressive policy priorities.
Scott Minkoff, an associate professor of political science at the State University of New York at New Paltz, said Mr. Madden may try to portray Mr. Shrestha as too extreme for the district, given his role as a left-wing Democrat. However, as a lawmaker, he warned of such problems. He can only come up with “radical” policies.
“You have to portray her in an extreme. To be fair, she's kind of extreme, right?” Minkoff said. “She's definitely on the far left of the Democratic Party, but how much does something like that translate into policy differently? I'm not sure.”
Minkoff said the real problem for Madden is winning Shrestha's ground game.
“That's a tall order, especially when you have people who have done it once before,” Minkoff said, adding that Shrestha's 2022 campaign will have thousands of volunteers. He added that he seemed willing to cooperate.
Shrestha certainly believes that his on-the-ground activities are the key to his success.
“We always knew they were going to run someone against me, so we've been preparing with a four-year plan to make sure I get re-elected,” she told City & told The State. “We recently reunited with our volunteers and kicked off in Kingston, and there was great energy and everyone ready to knock on the campaign door. We submitted a petition We plan to do so, so we will focus on that.”
The race between Mr. Shrestha and Mr. Madden is not the only contest between a progressive incumbent and a moderate who touts a dedication to local issues. In the 16th Congressional District, George Latimer of Westchester County is challenging incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman, saying he is too extreme for a predominantly suburban district.
