Tonko Accepts Debate, Asks Opponent to Join

"This is a voter emergency": Congressman sounds alarm on opponent's extremist positions, including leading an insurrection bus trip and support for abortion bans

CAPITAL REGION, NY -- Congressman Paul Tonko has agreed to an offer from WMHT Public Television to debate his opponent in the race to represent New York's 20th Congressional District, and is calling upon his Republican general election opponent, Liz Joy, to accept the same invitation to provide voters more information before they go to the polls.

Based on Joy's participation in the January 6th insurrection and her support for criminalizing all abortions, Tonko says this is a 'voter emergency'. He respectfully requests his opponent to join the debate and explain her extreme and out of touch ideas to Capital Region voters.

"Those running for The People's House should be held to account and open to public scrutiny,” said Tonko. “My opponent organized a bus trip to the Capitol on January 6th where police officers died, and insurrectionists tried to overturn an election. She has also expressed support for total abortion bans, even in cases of rape and incest. These are extreme views that are well out of touch with Capital Region voters, and they deserve to be scrutinized.

Meanwhile, Tonko has rolled up his sleeves since his overwhelming re-election in 2020, helping to pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to rebuild our nation’s roads and bridges, a bipartisan gun violence prevention package that will make our kids and communities safer, a once-in-a-lifetime climate response, and the CHIPS Act which is expected to bring more than 1,000 good-paying high-tech jobs to our community. In addition, Tonko worked this Congress to pass legislation that brings relief to Veterans exposed to toxic burn pits, caps prescription drugs for seniors at $2,000, and to reduce the federal deficit by more than $300 billion.

In July, Tonko voted to codify Roe v. Wade into law and protect abortion access nationwide.

Tonko has agreed to debate his general election opponent every time he has run for re-election. In August, he participated in a debate held by the League of Women Voters before New York’s primary elections.