David Wagenhauser

Press Release:

David Wagenhauser, candidate for New York's 24th Congressional District, spent an engaging day in Genesee County, connecting with constituents and discussing the issues that matter most to the community. 

The day began at the Pub Hub in Batavia, where Wagenhauser held a coffee meeting with residents from across the district, fostering open dialogue about local concerns and priorities, including the local cost of living, jobs and our threatened Medicare and Social Security. 

Following the morning gathering, Wagenhauser hit the streets for a door-to-door campaign effort, personally meeting with individuals - where they live - to hear their thoughts on the challenges they face every day. 

"It’s important to me to listen to the voices of the people. Their stories and experiences are what drive my commitment to serve this district. I've heard you and I want to make your life a little better. We deserve a break," Wagenhauser remarked. 

In the afternoon, Wagenhauser visited the charming Autumn in the Village event in Corfu, beautifully organized by dedicated local volunteers. "It’s good to be back home," Wagenhauser said. "I lived in Batavia - where we also had an office for our family business - and my children attended Holy Family School in Leroy. This community holds a special place in my heart."

As he campaigns for the seat in New York's 24th District, which spans 14 counties from Watertown to Niagara, Wagenhauser remains focused on addressing the needs of his friends and neighbors here in Genesee County.  

He is running against incumbent Claudia Tenney. For more information about David Wagenhauser’s campaign or to get involved, please visit DaveforUpstate.com.

Submitted photos.

Press Release from the office of David Wagenhauser:

Week One: You will be represented. Unlike other Congress members, I will not spend my day making calls to raise money for the next election. I will spend my time working to improve your life.

Monday: You will be heard. While DC politicians don’t listen to each other, perhaps it’s time they started listening to their constituents. In week one, we will host our first “NY-24 Conversations.” I will dedicate 2 hours per week to take questions, comments, and suggestions from the residents of NY24 - live, via scheduled videoconferencing (zoom). You will be heard. Not by staff. Not by a recording. Not by a form letter. Not via a photo-op. But by me, your Congressional representative, doing my job.

Unlike our current Representative, who inundates you with tv ads and emails detailing what she’s got to say - or incite you to be as angry as she is – I want to hear from you.

Tuesday: Reaching out. The finger-pointing and blame game needs to end and getting things done needs to take a front seat. In week one, I will reach out to Democrats and especially Republicans to actually do something about systemic problems such as the Border Crisis. You can complain, or you can do something. I choose getting things done. I will also reach out to start the process of getting the money and influence peddlers out of our governing process. Stock trading, corporate PACs and Congress-to-lobbyist track - out, term limits and public service - in.

Wednesday: Improving lives by making Upstate and WNY more affordable - groceries, gas, healthcare and housing.  Reaching out again to Congress members such as Senator Casey (PA) to fight Big Corporate greed and working to hold Big Oil and other big Corps responsible for price fixing, price gouging and addressing other causes of inflation.

Thursday: Protect, improve, and enhance Social Security and Medicare, not cut them. There is a plan by a group of more than 170 GOP Representatives to cut the benefits we are paid. I will fight them. We have worked our entire lives paying into a system and we should have no worries that it will serve us well in our retirement years.

Friday: Air and water.  NY-24 is one of the leaders in cancer clusters in NY. Our toxic waste and superfund sites - and currently operating and closed landfills - threaten our water, our air, our families’ health, and our agricultural and tourism economies. Every day we take in tons of garbage from NYC and the Northeast and are left with toxic “forever chemicals” that threaten our water supply. Building garbage mountains in Upstate and WNY is not a long-term answer. . In Week one, I will hire and dedicate staff whose sole responsibility will be to address these issues..

Saturday: Protecting women’s healthcare choices is a priority, as is improving access to affordable healthcare, especially mental health care in our rural areas. While nearly half of all Americans will suffer through a mental health issue, there is a scarcity of mental health professionals in rural areas. Waiting for three months to see a psychiatrist to get needed therapy and medication, let alone one who accepts your insurance, can have real and tragic results.. In week one, I will begin writing legislation that addresses the scarcity of mental health care in rural areas, including insurance parity, incentives and making training and education more accessible.

Sunday: Rest, mass, recharge with family and friends, watch the Bills and prepare for the challenges of the weeks ahead.

The challenges facing our nation will not be solved in a week. But the ultra-partisan standoff needs to end and we need to start listening to - and working for - the American people. I will be responsive from day one to the needs of my Upstate and WNY neighbors. I will listen to what matters to YOU in our weekly conversations and get the ball rolling by bringing a common-sense, positive attitude, and willingness to work across the aisle to get things done to make your life a little better. One week at a time. 

Press Release:

The FEC released fundraising totals for NY-24. Rep. Claudia Tenney’s, numbers showed:

• About 340k raised for the 4th Q 2023 and $1.1 million for fiscal year 2023
• Tenney’s “Victory Fund”  brought in an additional $290k for the year
• $200,000 of the Victory Fund was from a billionaire energy investor and over $70k from another
• Of Tenney’s total take, over 70% was from Big Corporations, Corporate PACS,  lobbyists, and their officers

“This is just wrong,” said David Wagenhauser, who is running to unseat Tenney. “We work for the people signing our paycheck - the people signing Tenney’s check are not the people of NY-24; they are Pfizer, billionaires, bankers, and Wall Street elites,” he said.

“Tenney’s fundraising totals won’t tell you who will win the election, but a review of her donors will tell you who’s got their money's worth and how she will vote this year,” Wagenhauser stated.  

He pointed to Tenney’s previous votes for Big Pharma (she voted against price caps on insulin for diabetics and other efforts to make prescription drugs more affordable); her votes for Big Insurance and against covering people with pre-existing conditions and to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), that would have left millions uninsured; and her votes to cut tax rates for billionaires and Big Corporations, causing the national debt to skyrocket.

While raising big PAC money, Tenney’s campaign also spent huge sums: $845 thousand dollars last year. “Hundreds of thousands of dollars to slick DC consulting firms and $750 meals at exclusive DC insider haunts such as the Capitol Hill Club show just how out of touch Tenney has become and the respect she shows for other people’s money.” Wagenhauser continued, “They go in rich, they come out richer.”

Wagenhauser’s fundraising totals for 2023 were also released yesterday.  They showed he raised over $6k in a very short time after his Christmastime launch. He noted he is significantly above that amount now.  He also noted that unlike Tenney, his campaign will not accept money from Big Corporations, Corporate PACS or lobbyists. “We are working for the people of our District, and will fight for our neighbors, not Wall Street, not K Street lobbyists and not Big Pharma.”

“I can guarantee you that we will be outraised and outspent by Tenney.” he said, “But we will not be outworked or out-organized, or beaten in November by a career politician who no longer represents the interests or values of the people of this District.”  

He concluded, “Tenney once campaigned on fighting for people, not PACS. Her FEC filings and the video I am releasing today tell a different story.  She’s changed and the lines she’s crossed tell us who she’s really fighting for.”

Press release:

David Wagenhauser announced today that he is challenging Representative Claudia Tenney for New York’s District 24 Congressional seat in 2024. Wagenhauser, who grew up in Upstate NY, has served as a Public Interest/First Amendment Attorney and Executive Director for a public interest group in Washington, DC. He was the Vice President of his family’s home care business for 15 years and served a full term as an elected Village Trustee in Brockport, NY.  

Wagenhauser launched his website (DaveforUpstate.com) and released a video to announce the kick-off of his campaign. “It’s time Claudia Tenney came home.”  He continued, “Tenney has become more interested in fighting partisan battles, booking TV and radio time and inciting social media outrage, than in working to solve the problems she complains about daily.”   

Wagenhauser notes he offers a clear alternative to Tenney’s often combative, ultra-partisanship that is the   “politics as usual” in DC today.  “Instead of simply blaming others for problems, we need to be working to find solutions. That means finding common ground for the common good.” He added, “You don’t have to agree with someone to work with them and improve the lives of our neighbors.” 

Wagenhauser seeks significant government reform. “They go in rich and come out richer,”  he stated. “We need meaningful Congressional reform, including working to put an end to stock trading, an end to corporate financing of elections, and an end to gerrymandering.” He also called for the passage of term-limit legislation. “Washington is broken and needs leaders who will step up and lead by example.”

Are Social Security and Medicare endangered?  “It’s not a threat, it’s a plan,” he said - referencing the Republican Study Committee’s stated intention to cut these programs.  Tenney is a member of this group.  Wagenhauser also acknowledged the importance of reducing the cost of prescription drugs. “Steps have been taken to get these costs down, but Tenney has fought reforms every step of the way.” He continued,“Tenney is largely bankrolled by corporate interests and PACS, including Big Pharma titan Pfizer.” Wagenhauser’s website details many of these transactions.    

“I will fight for the hard-working women and men of Upstate NY. That means jobs that provide families livable wages that keep ahead of inflation. I’ll support legislation such as the “CHIPS” act that will deliver tens of thousands of good careers to Upstate NY, giving opportunities for our kids here.” Tenney voted against that job-creating Bill.   

“It has become clearer by the day that Claudia Tenney does not represent Upstate values - integrity, respect, civility, independence and helping our neighbors,” Wagenhauser stated.  “I invite everyone to join me as I run to reform a broken Congress, protect Social Security and Medicare and empower our hard-working families to prosper.”