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The Ithacan

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The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan

The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan

U.S. Senator for NY

Incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Michael Sapraicone and Diane Sare are on the ballot for the U.S. Senate election in New York state. This is the only seat on the ballot that has three candidates contesting. 

Gillibrand is a Democratic candidate who ran for president in 2020 and is being challenged by Sapraicone, a retired New York City Police Department detective and founder of Squad Security, a private security company. Sare is a LaRouche Party candidate who has run for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District in 2012 and 2014, and is also seeking the senate position. 

 

Economy 

Gillibrand’s campaign focuses on job growth and the establishment of small businesses through the Main Street Employee Ownership Act and increasing the minimum wage. In Nov 2021, when the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was passed, — which implemented more equitable public transport — she prioritized hiring people from local communities. 

Sapraicone’s economic policy includes the restoration of a state and local tax deduction, the reversal of a $1 billion cut from the NYPD and reducing inflation. Sapraicone also supports blocking the MTA’s congestion pricing program that was implemented in June.

Sare’s plan states that commercials and investment banking should be separate from each other and that the National Bank should replace the Federal Reserves. Sare has proposed projects the U.S. could take part in that help develop the nation’s infrastructure. 

 

Healthcare

Gillibrand opposes the privatization of Social Security and prioritizes healthcare for all New Yorkers. In June 2023, Gillibrand passed the 9/11 health bill, which helps to ensure that first responders and 9/11 survivors can get access to healthcare.

Sapraicone supports Social Security and Medicare benefits for seniors. In 2021, he was appointed to the board of directors of Mount Sinai South Nassau. While in this role, he has helped finance and develop projects at the hospital, as well as oversee hospital functions. 

On August 13, Sare protested the closure of the Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in the Lower East side of Manhattan and spoke to the press about the closure being an example of big corporations looting vulnerable populations, like the sick and the elderly. 

Abortion 

In 2021, Gillibrand established efforts to fight for reproductive rights. This included a statewide public information campaign and the development of a patient bill of rights to inform women of their rights and legal protections. 

Sapraicone is in favor of a seven-week abortion ban, according to an interview on 710 WOR. He believes New York’s laws are too liberal, but does not support a national abortion ban. Sapraicone thinks that restrictions on abortions should be made by individual states. 

Sare does not have a clear stance on reproductive rights. Instead, the LaRouche party favors focusing on other issues, like implementing nuclear fusion energy as well as building electric rails that can connect the entire U.S. 

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