Rep. Richard Hanna (R-Barneveld) is expected to announce Monday that he will retire from Congress when his current term ends at the end of 2016.
Hanna, 64, first ran for Congress in 2008, losing a close election to then-incumbent Democrat Michael Arcuri. Hanna defeated Arcuri in a rematch in 2010, and defeated Democrat Dan Lamb in 2012. He was reelected to his third term in 2014, defeating state Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R-New Hartford) in a Republican primary. He then was unopposed for the general election.
Hanna will hold a press conference Monday morning at his home in Barneveld.
Hanna calls himself as a moderate Republican, and has often clashed with more conservative members of the party in his votes, and his comments. He’s most recently made waves as one of just a handful of House Republicans who have been opposed to efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. And he made national political news this fall, after suggesting that the Benghazi investigation was a politically motivated maneuver to go after democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.
Those expected to run for the 22nd District seat next year were quick to release statements to the media.
Tenney, who has already announced her candidacy to run again next year, thanked Hanna for his service, but said it was time for a change in the district.
Looking ahead, now is the time to tackle the challenges we face with bold, principled leadership in Washington. I will serve the people of this district tirelessly as their advocate when elected to Congress. I ask for the support of the voters of New York's 22nd District to unite around our campaign so the voice of the people can be heard again.
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, also a Republican, was just reelected to his current job, butin a statement left the door open for a run for Congress.
Our next Congressman must go to Washington and have certainty in their convictions and the experience necessary to articulate a vision for the future. We must send someone that will use that experience to move us forward as a community and a Country. I’m entering my third term as Oneida County Executive and there is not a job in the world I would rather do. However, when looking at the future of this region I feel a sense of duty and obligation and therefore I will strongly consider running for Untied States Congress.
Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica), has not declared his candidacy for the seat, but his name has been mentioned as a potential candidate. He also thanked Hanna for his service in a written statement, and commended Hanna's willingness to work with both Republicans and Democrats.
In making decisions, he did not follow the party line, and his willingness to work across the aisle to get things done is something we need more of in Washington, D.C. Richard has done a great deal to safeguard and strengthen the Air Force Research Laboratory at Rome, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, and to ensure our region received adequate funding for vital transportation and infrastructure projects.