Investment banker and GOP Young Gun Matt Doheny has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his race for the Republican nomination in New York’s 21st Congressional District. The winner of the Republican primary will face incumbent Democrat Bill Owens in the general election.
Incumbent Bill Owens was elected in the 2009 special election and again in 2010 with only 48%. In the 2010 race, Doheny grabbed 46% of the vote with a third party conservative candidate taking 6%. The Cook Political Report has rated the race for New York’s 21st District as “Lean Democrat” with a PVI of R+1, while the Stu Rothenberg Report rates the race as “Pure Toss-up”. These statistics all point to New York’s 21st District representing a major pick-up opportunity for Republicans.
By signing the Pledge, Doheny has made a written commitment to the taxpayers of New York 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 236 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.