Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter has held her seat since 1987, after winning the midterm election in 1986. This year, she faces two new foes who hope to challenge her with unique ideas and personalities. Tim Dean, who will run as an independent from Greece, and Republican Mark Assini, a Gates Supervisor, both hope to move beyond Rochester and bring their ideas and influence to the nation’s capital. Both plan on doing so, at least in part, by blurring the distinction between party lines.

Assini set a precedent for such bipartisan cooperation when he worked with Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Minor, who is co-chair of the state’s Democratic Party, to help prevent a pension proposal by Gov. Cuomo from getting off the ground. He has been emphatic in pointing out failures in Congress, and flaws in the two-party system.

“I think this past session of Congress really disappointed the American people to the point where they’re willing to make a change. They know that the path that we’re on right now is not the right path for prosperity in this country,” Assini said.

He also commented, “Washington is broken, there’s no doubt about it….There’s no collaboration, no compromise.”
In part, Dean’s campaign echoes that sentiment. He believes that his ability to relate to every American, unlike others who are firmly entrenched in a political party, gives him a distinct advantage.

A former commercial truck driver, Dean said, “I think I have a bigger chance than most because I know I can relate to everybody. Not just Democrats, not just Republicans. I think I can relate to everybody because I’m not a politician. I’m just a regular person, middle class American. I literally am.”

On top of that, Dylan Hunter, Dean’s campaign manager, says that Dean chose to run as an independent in order to break away from the two political parties as he believes they are actually a part of the problem.

Of course, their campaigns do feature some significant variance. Assini’s campaign is based on improving both the economy and the Affordable Care Act, which may go hand-in-hand, to some extent. Unlike other Republicans, however, he is willing to consider changes rather than call for an outright repeal, and thinks the Canadian and British systems could provide some insights on how to make it work.

Dean’s top priorities include repealing the Affordable Care Act, improving education, benefits for military veterans, and 2nd Amendment gun rights. A former Marine himself, Dean pledges to not vote for proposed laws that restrict guns and to “govern by the Constitution without compromise.”

Considering the fact that healthcare is such an important issue, most every Rochesterian voter will be keeping an eye on how Slaughter and her challengers choose to approach the subject and answer questions. Everything from basic physicals, to unforeseen trips to urgent care facilities that treat non-threatening life injuries, to lengthy stays in the hospital can all be impacted by changes in government policies. The success of every politician’s campaign might hinge upon how they handle the controversial issue.

After Assini and Dean announced their candidacies on Thursday night, Slaughter’s party has not been silent. A statement released by a spokesperson said:
“Monroe County has sent Louise Slaughter to Congress because she’s a tough fighter who delivers results for the constituents she is proud to represent. We look forward to discussing our region’s future, and to earning each and every vote.”

As of now, it is probably too early to determine how voters will sway. Slaughter, the 14-term incumbent, seems to have a good grip on the Democratic voters, while Dean’s no-nonsense approach might appeal to Republicans. Assini’s more neutral campaign could pull voters from both sides. However, some feel that Assini and Dean might actually compete against each other, giving Slaughter an advantage.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the coming months.