Jane Corwin became the only candidate in the New York 26th Congressional District special election so far to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The election to replace the seat vacated by Republican Chris Lee’s resignation will take place on May 24.

The special election positions NY Assemblywoman Corwin in a tight three-way battle against Democratic nominee Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul and independent businessman Jack Davis, a former Democrat. This district is historically a Republican-leaning district, going Republican in the last three presidential races. Rep. Lee won the district with 74% of the vote in 2010.

Polling indicates that Corwin holds an edge over Hochul with Davis trailing behind. Davis appears to be stealing significant percentages from both candidates, although it seems he is taking more votes from Corwin than Hochul, even though he ran as a Democrat in 2004, 2006, and 2008. In contrast, the New York Conservative Party rated Corwin the 2nd most conservative member of the New York Assembly in 2010.

By signing the Pledge, Corwin commits to the taxpayers of New York that she will “oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses … and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.”

Upon Corwin signing the Pledge, ATR’s President Grover Norquist had this to say:

I want to congratulate Assemblywoman Corwin for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The American people clearly showed their displeasure last November with the tax-and-spend policies coming from Washington. They want real solutions that create jobs, cut government spending, and get the economy going again.

NY-26 Congressional candidate Jane Corwin Signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

WASHINGTON, DC NY Assemblywoman Jane Corwin has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in the special election for the NY-26 Congressional seat. The Pledge, sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), commits signers to “oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses … and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates."

ATR has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. To date, 41 U.S. Senators and 235 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, thirteen governors and over 1,200 state legislators have signed the Pledge.

“I want to congratulate Assemblywoman Corwin for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The American people clearly showed their displeasure last November with the tax-and-spend policies coming from Washington. They want real solutions that create jobs, cut government spending, and get the economy going again,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.

“By signing the Pledge, Jane Corwin demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers of New York.”

“I challenge all candidates for federal office to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” Norquist continued.

[PDF of Press Release]