STATEMENT FROM STUART AMORIELL

Candidate, NY-21 Democratic Congressional Primary

What happened in this race is simple: the Democratic establishment tried to commit fraud against the voters of NY-21, and “they” got caught.

A petition challenge was filed to remove me from the June 23rd ballot. A judge declined to sign their motion for lack of cause. The Board of Elections validated our signatures — more than enough to keep us on the ballot. And buried in the attorney's own filings to the State Board of Elections is the Essex County Democratic Party Chair Maggie Bartley — proof that party officials were behind this effort from the start.

This is not politics. This is an attempt to steal a primary. It is a betrayal of the democratic process, a betrayal of the voters of this district, and a betrayal of the American value that every citizen deserves a free and fair election — not one decided in a back room by party insiders protecting their handpicked candidate.

The people of NY-21 are angry — and they have every right to be. They are angry that the Democratic establishment believes it knows better than the voters. They are angry that party officials would rather rig an outcome than earn one. They are angry about what was done to force other candidates out of this race. That anger is legitimate, it is justified, and it is shared by everyone who believes that democracy means something.

The establishment tried to take away the voters' voice. But the law said no. 

Those responsible owe the people of this district an apology. I will have more to say tomorrow morning.