It's On: Nate McMurray Is Challenging Indicted Trump Crony Chris Collins In Western New York

On Saturday, Nate McMurray wrote, "Today I am officially declaring my candidacy in New York’s 27th congressional district. In some ways it seems like I never stopped. I continue to travel across Western New York meeting with good people; listening and learning." Nate's 2018 race against the ineffective, criminally indicted incumbent-- Chris Collins-- was not supported by the DCCC and yet Collins wound up doing better than many of the candidates the DCCC wasted millions of dollars on. It was one of the closest finishes in the country-- and in a blood-red R+11 district where Trump had crushed Hillary 60-35%.

Collins outspent McMurray by over half a million dollars. Had the DCCC not spent the $3 million trying to elect Blue Dog Paul Davis in Kansas-- to just cite one of the races where McMurray out-paced the DCCC loser-- and spent just a portion of it in NY-27, McMurray would be in Congress today, voting for Medicare-for-All, the Green New Deal, impeachment, raising the minimum wage, banning the sale of military style assault weapons, lowering the cost of drugs... all things Davis would have opposed-- and all things the DCCC frowns of for candidates. That's why the DCCC spends millions on Blue Dog and New Dem conservatives and ignores progressives and real Dems.

This week marks the one year anniversary of  Chris Collins’ federal indictment chargers for insider trading. Mr. Collins and the political machine behind him remain strong despite his many ethical and legal failures. Many party loyalists continue to view him favorably, even more than his Republican challengers. He retains this support in part due to the tactics he employs; the depths he and his hateful political forces will stoop to.

Despite the perceived insurmountable challenges in 2018, our race against Collins was one of the closest in the country (decided by less than 1%), achieving the largest partisan swing of any first time state/ federal candidate in the country-- in a district designed for a Republican (any Republican) to win easily. This was despite our side being outspent, outnumbered, and attacked day after day by some of the most dishonest and detestable TV ads ever produced for a political race.

Why did we perform so well? Many are tired of being asked to vote blindly for their party. They are tired of nothing ever improving, nothing ever changing. And they are tired of the politics of hate and corruption. With your support, passion, and service to our community, we can finish what we started 2018 and finally reclaim this seat on behalf of the hardworking people of Western New York. People like you, who go to work on time everyday, who help their neighbors, who never cheat their business associates, and who spread kindness and goodness throughout their lives.

...In 2020, we will go to Washington to fight for healthcare for every American (now!), infrastructure (now!), for common sense gun control (and now!), for immigration reform to help our farmers (now!), and for technologies and policies that will confront the reality of climate change. I will also fight for a capitalist system that preserves the American Dream and provides opportunities to all, and not just hoards wealth for the most connected and elite.

“Given how close Nate came in 2018, we are thrilled to have him running for us this cycle. It’s been too long since the people of NY-27 have had a representative that cares about representing the voters rather than the party. It is the one-year anniversary of Chris Collins’ indictment and the Republicans are still stuck with him and don’t know what to do. We are delighted to have Nate running again” - Judith Hunter (Chair, Livingston County Democratic Committee)

"When Nate McMurray ran in NY-27 in 2018, he came within less than a percentage point of victory. But along with this, he did something else, something magical. He energized the rural counties. He created a movement on the ground that hasn't gone away.  Nate asked them all to ‘Fight Like Hell’, they did, and will again." - Cynthia Appleton (Chair, Wyoming County Democratic Committee)

“I am so pleased to hear that Nate will be running again.  He has visited Orleans County many times and is very aware of what our small county faces every day...few jobs, lack of affordable housing and high taxes.  We need Nate!!” - Jeanne Crane (Chair, Orleans County Democratic Committee)

“Chairwoman Brittaney Wells and the Monroe County Democratic Committee are proud to join Nate to finish the fight he began in 2018 for the 27th Congressional District. We are confident that he will be successful in his effort to unseat an absentee billionaire that has not represented the hard-working people of the 27th. Nate will restore integrity to the office and ensure his constituents are heard.” - Brittaney Wells (Chair, Monroe County Democratic Committee)

Thank you all for standing with me in the battles ahead. Together we will finish what we started; together we will bring real representation to the hard-working people of Western New York.

McMurray sat down for an interview with Jerry Zremski of the Buffalo News before announcing. Asked about the rumors that he would challenge moderate Democrat Brian Higgins instead of Collins, McMurray explained his thinking:

McMurray expressed some sympathy with the sentiment that Higgins not done enough to take on Trump.

"This is not a time to play it safe," McMurray said. "I've expressed that to Congressman Higgins, but also to others in safe seats in New York State when I've had the opportunity. I've said, 'You need to stand up and be stronger: a voice for impeachment, and and a voice against Mr. Collins.'"

McMurray made his anti-Trump, anti-Collins stance clear in a turbulent 2018 race that he lost to Collins by only 1,087 votes.

If anything, McMurray has made his progressive views even clearer since then, calling for Trump's impeachment and stronger gun-control measures even though he's running in a heavily rural district where a recent poll found Trump with an 81% approval rating among Republicans.

Asked how he planned to appeal to Trump voters, McMurray said he's counting on them turning on the president.

"In politics, things change quickly," McMurray said. "And if Trump's brinkmanship in economic matters or international matters continues, and we have a change in the economy, or when you see these terrible trade policies start to affect directly more local farmers, I think you can see a quick change."

McMurray raged against Collins on ethics issues both before and after the lawmaker's indictment last year, and he plans to do so again.

"I have many witnesses that are verifying my previous arguments-- and that's the Republican Party itself," he said.

For instance, State Sen. Chris Jacobs, a Republican who has already announced his bid for Collins' seat, has said the incumbent can't really do the job while under indictment. Local attorney Beth Parlato has also joined the race for the GOP nomination, and other possible candidates include State Sen. Rob Ortt of North Tonawanda and Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia.

Collins was stripped of his House committee assignments after his arrest, leaving him with little legislative clout. But Collins continues to tout his close relationship with the Trump White House while stepping up campaign-like activities in his district and awaiting his criminal trial, which is set to begin next Feb. 3.

Collins my also have to beat back other primary challengers before he can face McMurray. Jacobs and right-wing anti-AOC loon Beth Parlato are already running against him but other Republicans weighing their options include Erie County legislator Ed Rath, state Senator Rob Ortt, Erie County comptroller Stefan Mychajliw, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Assemblyman Ray Walter and potential vanity candidates Carl Paladino, Michael Caputo and David Bellavia.