Alissa Ellman

Alissa Ellman grew up in rural Houghton as the youngest of six children.¹ Her first job was at Houghton College.¹ The Army National Guard veteran says she joined the military at 17, before the September 11, 2001 attacks, to help pay for college and first deployed at 19.²³

Her time in Afghanistan included service as a soldier and work as a civilian contractor in airfield management and logistics.³ After returning home, she married, had two daughters and trained as a special education teacher.³ Her teaching work focused on students with behavioral issues.¹ A 2018 cancer diagnosis interrupted that career.³

Ellman later processed education benefit claims at the Buffalo VA, before losing her job during the 2025 staff reductions.³⁴ She credits her own VA treatment with motivating her to seek work helping other veterans.¹ She has described that experience as a turning point toward running for Congress.³ Her earlier political organizing included helping start Stand Up Lockport, which began with weekly coffee meetings with a friend.¹

Ellman challenges Republican incumbent Claudia Tenney, emphasizing affordable childcare, housing and rural services.⁵⁶ She supports expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, rural bus networks and water system investment, alongside stronger union protections and reproductive and LGBTQ rights.⁶