Democrat Martha Robertson ’75 announced Thursday that she will run to represent the predominantly conservative 23rd congressional district — which is currently being led by Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) — in the 2014 congressional election.

Recently freed from his Congressional campaign responsibilities, Nate Shinagawa ’05 M.A. ’09 went to the gym last week. It was the first time he had been in more than eight months — or since he first declared his candidacy for New York’s 23rd Congressional seat on March 14.

In a hard-fought election decided by a margin smaller than any poll had predicted, incumbent Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y. 29) edged out Democratic challenger Nate Shinagawa ’05 M.A. ’09, clinching 51 percent of the vote and winning the race for New York’s 23rd Congressional District.

With less than 24 hours until election day, Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) visited Cornell Monday to participate in a town hall style forum focusing on Middle Eastern policy.

The candidates for the 23rd Congressional District argued over how "Obamacare" effects Medicare.

Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y. 29) often talks about the town hall forums he has held across upstate New York, citing them as evidence of grassroots support for his re-election. However, his opponent has accused him of funding his campaign through corporate interests.

In a spirited, substantive debate held Thursday morning, rivals in the local Congressional race fought to claim the mantle of bipartisanship while deriding their opponent as an extremist removed from the political mainstream.

As of Sept. 29, Tom Reed has raised a total of $1.87 million to Nate Shinagawa's $639,019.

In the race for New York’s 23rd Congressional district, money divides incumbent Rep. Tom Reed (R–N.Y. 29) and Democratic candidate Nathan Shinagawa ’05 M.A. ’09 almost as much as political opinion.