Carl Paladino, The Donald Trump Of Western New York, Loses GOP Primary For Congress

New York state Republican Party Chair Nick Langworthy, a former Paladino ally, won his party’s nomination in the conservative 23rd Congressional District.

Langworthy, 41, pitched himself as a supporter of the policies of former President Donald Trump — but didn’t have the baggage and drama of Paladino and his “three-ring circus.”

Paladino, 75, is essentially Buffalo’s own Donald Trump. A bombastic real estate developer, he’s frequently found himself in the national spotlight for comments like praising Adolf Hitler and claiming that children were being “brainwashed” into accepting gay people.

Langworthy racked up more endorsements from local Republicans in the district, although Paladino had the backing of Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), who is the No. 3 Republican in the House. Paladino’s loss is also a blow to Stefanik and her clout. When the seat opened up in June with the retirement of Rep. Chris Jacobs (N.Y.), Stefanik quickly backed Paladino — reportedly much to the surprise and frustration of other House GOP leaders, not to mention Langworthy.

Jacobs, who had been running for reelection, announced his retirement after receiving intense backlash within his party for supporting an assault weapons ban. He took that position after a white supremacist murdered 10 people at a Tops supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Buffalo on May 14.

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R&I. -TxPAT