Democrat Nate Shinagawa, who unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Tom Reed for his House seat in 2012, will not run for Congress in 2014.
Reed, R-Corning, narrowly defeated Shinagawa in the race for the state’s 23rd Congressional District seat. Reed is now serving his second full term in the House.
“With Congress still failing to turn around this economy, it’s clear Washington needs leadership,” Shinagawa said. “However, while I’ve been pushed by the national Democratic Party and local leaders to run, I have decided that this district, and my family, need my attention at home.”
When asked if he would consider running for Congress again in the future, Shinagawa said: “I’ve ruled out 2014. But I can definitely see myself running for Congress or something else in the future. I’m only 29 years old ... I can definitely say I will not run for Assembly or the (state) Senate.”
Shinagawa garnered 48 percent of the vote in November’s general election, and it seemed likely he would run again. The last time the Elmira-Corningarea congressional district was won by a Democrat was in 2008, when Corning resident Eric Massa defeated incumbent Republican Randy Kuhl.
Massa narrowly fell to Kuhl in the 2006 election but followed up with a win two years later.
Shinagawa said Reed’s seat is still being targeted by Democrats, and he said strong candidates will emerge.
Since losing the election, Shinagawa, a Tompkins County legislator, has returned to his job as the administrative director at Robert Packer Hospital. He said his position will allow him to focus his energy on ensuring local citizens get the best health care possible.
“There’s innovative and exciting work happening locally to improve health care quality and reduce costs to patients,” he said. “The biggest changes in health care reform will happen in the next two years. We need people working hard, on the ground, to make sure it’s done right.”
Democrat Nate Shinagawa, who unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Tom Reed for his House seat in 2012, will not run for Congress in 2014.
Reed, R-Corning, narrowly defeated Shinagawa in the race for the state’s 23rd Congressional District seat. Reed is now serving his second full term in the House.
“With Congress still failing to turn around this economy, it’s clear Washington needs leadership,” Shinagawa said. “However, while I’ve been pushed by the national Democratic Party and local leaders to run, I have decided that this district, and my family, need my attention at home.”
When asked if he would consider running for Congress again in the future, Shinagawa said: “I’ve ruled out 2014. But I can definitely see myself running for Congress or something else in the future. I’m only 29 years old ... I can definitely say I will not run for Assembly or the (state) Senate.”
Shinagawa garnered 48 percent of the vote in November’s general election, and it seemed likely he would run again. The last time the Elmira-Corningarea congressional district was won by a Democrat was in 2008, when Corning resident Eric Massa defeated incumbent Republican Randy Kuhl.
Massa narrowly fell to Kuhl in the 2006 election but followed up with a win two years later.
Shinagawa said Reed’s seat is still being targeted by Democrats, and he said strong candidates will emerge.
Since losing the election, Shinagawa, a Tompkins County legislator, has returned to his job as the administrative director at Robert Packer Hospital. He said his position will allow him to focus his energy on ensuring local citizens get the best health care possible.
“There’s innovative and exciting work happening locally to improve health care quality and reduce costs to patients,” he said. “The biggest changes in health care reform will happen in the next two years. We need people working hard, on the ground, to make sure it’s done right.”
