Iraq War veteran David Bellavia was passed over by GOP leaders in last spring’s special election, won by Rep. Kathy Hochul for the 26th congressional district.
Now, he’s raising campaign cash to gauge support to a potential challenge to the Democratic congresswoman this fall.
Bellavia sent a web video and letter to some 400,000 people, urging them to help him decide if he should take on Hochul. He says he won’t make his run official until redistricting is completed.
Bellavia isn’t the only Republican mulling a challenge to Hochul. Former Erie County Executive Chris Collins and Amherst Supervisor Barry Weinstein have said they’re also waiting for the district lines to be finalized before making a decision about whether to enter the race.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has said that Western New York could lose a district due to its loss of population over the past decade.
