Alissa Ellman

Alissa Ellman served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 2001 to 2007. She earned a bachelor's degree from Niagara University in 2013.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a disabled combat veteran, a mother, a cancer survivor after a toxic exposure in Afghanistan, a former special education teacher, and a former Veterans Affairs employee who was DOGE'd by Elon and his goons. I believe that politicians must be civil servants and do good work for everyone they represent. I'm tired of career politicians serving the interests of the billionaire class. I want to fight for the working class and combat the blatant corruption we are witnessing in the federal government. NY-24 is my home, I love living here and the people here are incredible. They deserve a fighter in Congress to represent them. I will be that fighter.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We need serious reform in our government. Congresspeople should not be able to get rich trading stocks while in office. Campaign finance should be reformed to make it easier to run for office, including caps on contributions, overturning Citizens United to claw back power from the superPACs, and introducing matching funds. I also want to uncap the House, enact term limits, and end gerrymandering.Everyone deserves good quality healthcare. I support Medicare for All, we must make sure nobody is ever denied life saving so that a billion dollar corporation can save money. We must re-invest in healthcare in our communities and invest in our hospitals, as rural hospital closures have deeply hurt NY-24 and made healthcare less accessible than ever. I will fight to fix our healthcare system so that everyone in NY-24 can get the care they deserve.Expanding our education system is critical to helping build a better future for our children. If we expand our public schools to include early childhood programs we can immediately help identify children with developmental issues and help support them immediately. These lead to much better outcomes and better support down the road. Children are our future, and the more we invest in them early, the greater we will be rewarded when they are grown. I have worked in special education, we can be doing so much more for our children. We need to build a system that helps every child find their pathway to success.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am interested in helping the working class, the people who have built and maintained the place I call home. NY-24 was built by union labor, our winters are survivable by hardworking men and women waking up early in the morning to plow snow, our hospitals staffed by dedicated and brilliant doctors and nurses, our children taught by incredible teachers. The working class has made NY-24 what it is, but our current representative only represents the billionaire class. I want to be a voice for the working people.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, and a desire to be a real public servant who does the best for everyone in your district.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Working Families Party, Niagara County Democratic Committee, Livingston County Democratic Committee, Wayne County Democratic Committee, Wyoming County Democratic Committee, Nate McMurray (former candidate for congress), IAM (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers).