Syracuse University professor Eric Kingson announced he will be seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress in the Syracuse-area's 24th District in 2016.
Kingson is pushing a progressive agenda leading with an expansion of Social Security. A small but vocal crowd of younger and older people came out to Kingson’s campaign launch in Syracuse and those two demographics are exactly who Kingson said he wants to connect with.
"My goal is to involve a lot of young people and engage them," Kingson said. "Part of what I want to do is have the opportunity to talk to a lot of older people, and make the case for why they need to be supporting Medicare, Social Security, not only for themselves, but for their kids and grandkids.”
The 24th Congressional Dstrict, currently held by Republican Rep. John Katko, is one of the most competitive districts in the nation, alternating between the Republican and Democratic parties for the past four election cycles. The district includes the counties of Onondaga, Wayne, Cayuga, and part of Oswego County.
Kingson teaches social and public policy at Syracuse University, has authored several books, served on the staff of presidential commissions on social security and co-directs a social security advocacy organization.
Kingson said he is also for raising the minimum wage, more infrastructure, supporting unions and addressing student debt.
