UPDATED: Nov. 7, 2018 at 10:59 a.m.

Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) held onto his seat in New York’s 24th Congressional District on Tuesday night, defeating Democratic challenger Dana Balter by more than 15,000 votes.

Katko, a two-term incumbent who led the polls throughout most of the race, won the election by about 6 percent. The Republican beat Balter in Cayuga, Wayne and Oswego counties but failed to get a majority of voters in Onondaga County, where Balter received 50.49 percent of votes.

Talia Trackim | Senior Design Editor

Balter conceded to Katko after 11 p.m.

At the Onondaga County GOP watch party at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center on Tuesday night  — where hundreds of people came out to support Katko, State Senate candidate Bob Antonacci and County Sheriff candidate Gene Conway  — Katko said Balter ran a good campaign and was a “tough opponent.”

“We are in a time of strife, and we are in a time of partisanship,” he said. “But I am telling you I am putting up with all this crap in Washington because I want to keep trying to say there is way to get along with the other side.”

The Camillus native, who has been named the seventh-most bipartisan member of Congress by the Lugar Center, is a proponent of tighter borders, congressional term limits and a stronger police force. He has voted in favor of the Republican tax overhaul bill but has spoken out against family separation at the border.

Katko led Balter by at least 14 points in the three months preceding the election, about 53 to 39 percent, according to Syracuse.com/Spectrum News/Siena College polls.

The incumbent, a Syracuse University College of Law alumnus, has sometimes broken away from the Republican party, voting against repealing the Affordable Care Act. He said he voted against the repeal because he was against the ACA, but the Republican Party did not present a solution. Before his congressional career, Katko worked as a federal prosecutor for 15 years, where he focused on working against gang violence and crime in Syracuse.

Many people at the watch party cited Katko’s bipartisanship as a reason for their support.

Laura Lavine, who ran unsuccessfully for Syracuse mayor last year, said Katko is “level-headed” and “responsible to his constituents.”  She added that Balter was a “lovely person,” but not right for Congress.

“He’s one of the most bipartisan representatives we could ever hope for,” Lavine said. “Unfortunately, (Balter) is so far removed from what the constituents need in central New York that there wasn’t really a clear path for her to victory.”

Domenic Biamonte, president of Syracuse University’s College Republicans and a sophomore finance major, said that support for Katko has been widespread.

“He’s trusted,” Biamonte said. “He focuses on what’s best for constituents rather than what’s best for his party.”

Interns who worked on the Katko campaign celebrated after being told that Balter had conceded.
Paul Schlesinger | Staff Photographer

The congressman, who serves as co-chair of the congressional Mental Health Caucus, was endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers Inc., the United States Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and the National Association of Police Organizations.

Attendee Don Hamilton, of Onondaga, said Katko has the same “conservative philosophy” as him.

“He’s got a great relationship with the Democrats and Republicans in Washington, and that’s the way you get things done,” Hamilton said. “He’s well-established and well-respected. A newcomer cannot pick up where he left off.”

Mike and Margaret McGarvey, of Syracuse, said they have been long-time friends of Katko’s family. Margaret’s brother James Murphy is running for re-election as a judge on the New York State Supreme Court’s 5th Judicial District.

When asked about her hopes for Katko’s third term, Margaret said she wants politics to be more civil. During the congressional campaign, both Katko and Balter ran attack ads about each other. Katko’s ad questioned whether Balter paid her taxes.

Dana Balter conceded on Tuesday night after 11 p.m. Despite winning the majority of votes in Onondaga County, Katko won more in the 24th district.
Lauren Miller | Asst. Video Editor

“I’d just like it to get a little more peaceful in the United States,” Margaret said. “It seems like everybody’s angry.”

During the race, Katko hosted politicians such as Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan in June and October, respectively, to fundraise for his campaign in Syracuse.

Lavine said she hopes Katko will continue to be a voice for moderate Republicans. Republican attendee Bill Camperlino said he thinks Katko is a dealmaker and can work well with Democrats.

“Whatever policy he’s dealing with, he tries to be fair, look at all sides and come up with a solution to these problems the best he can to compromise and satisfy everybody’s needs,” Camperlino said.

“We are in a time of strife and a time of partisanship, but I am telling you I am putting up with all this crap in Washington because I want keep trying to say that there is a way to get along with the other side,” Katko said. #SyracuseElections2018 pic.twitter.com/NIdsbzdPHb

— Catherine Leffert (@ccleffert) November 7, 2018

The 24th District has flipped between a Republican and Democratic representative for the past decade. One attendee, Syracuse resident Kathy Hafter, said Tuesday was her first time voting in midterm elections. She said she wanted to make sure President Donald Trump can continue to implement his policy.

Democrats won the House by at least 23 seats. In his speech to the hundreds of people who went to the watch party on Tuesday night, Katko said that even though his party is now in the minority, he will continue to work across the aisle, like he said he has always done.

“You hear my solemn vow: I’m not changing a damn thing I do in Congress,” Katko said of his third term. “I’m doing exactly what I’ve done before, and I’ll do it again.”

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, in a previous version of this post, Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) was misquoted. Katko said he wants “to keep trying to say there is way to get along with the other side.” The Daily Orange regrets this error. 

Published on November 6, 2018 at 11:04 pm

Contact Catherine: ccleffer@syr.edu | @ccleffert