Republican · New York's 24th District · 2026
Claudia Tenney
Tenney played basketball, curled and competed in horseback riding while growing up in New Hartford.
Biography
Claudia Tenney raised her son as a single mother while helping run a small business.1 Her adult son, Trey, graduated from the Naval Academy and serves as a Marine officer.2 Her grandfather founded Mid-York Press in 1946.2
Tenney graduated from Colgate University and the University of Cincinnati's law school, worked for the Yugoslav Consulate General and maintained a law practice in Clinton.21 Before opening her own practice, she was a partner at the Utica firm Groben, Gilroy, Oster, and Saunders.2 She was also part owner and legal counsel of Mid-York Press.2 In 1997, she established Tenney Media Group as its publisher and corporate counsel, producing free community newspapers that covered three Central New York counties in eight weekly editions.2 The newspaper division was sold to Gannett in 2004.2
She served in the state Assembly from 2011 through 2016.3 She served in Congress from 2017 to 2019 and returned in 2021.3 She now sits on Ways and Means, Intelligence, and Science, Space, and Technology.2
The Republican incumbent faces Democrat Alissa Ellman in November.4 Tenney's 2026 tax agenda emphasizes family and business tax relief, retirement savings and housing investment.5 Her gun policy plan favors expanded access for lawful owners and stronger privacy and due process protections, while opposing additional firearm restrictions.6
Record and controversies
Campaign travel spending questions
January 2026 reporting questioned campaign hotel stays coinciding with tennis tournaments and apparel expenses recorded as donor gifts.7 Campaign consultant Anthony Pileggi denied misuse, criticized the account's reading of the House calendar, and said her travel and campaign activity complied with federal rules.7 The cited report describes questions about expenses, rather than an FEC finding of personal use.7