Scott Smith (New York)

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Scott Smith
Image of Scott Smith

Serve America Movement Party, Libertarian Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 3, 2020

Contact

Scott Smith (Serve America Movement Party, Libertarian Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent New York's 18th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Smith was a 2016 independent candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 18th Congressional District of New York.[1] Smith dropped out of the race in July 2016.[2]

Smith was also a 2014 independent ("Send Mr. Smith") candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 18th Congressional District of New York.[3] Scott Smith (New York) lost the general election on November 4, 2014.

Elections

2020

See also: New York's 18th Congressional District election, 2020

New York's 18th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 23 Republican primary)

New York's 18th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 23 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House New York District 18

Incumbent Sean Maloney defeated Chele Farley and Scott Smith in the general election for U.S. House New York District 18 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sean Maloney
Sean Maloney (D / Working Families Party / Independence Party)
 
55.8
 
187,444
Image of Chele Farley
Chele Farley (R / Conservative Party)
 
43.2
 
145,145
Image of Scott Smith
Scott Smith (Serve America Movement Party / L)
 
0.9
 
3,164
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
118

Total votes: 335,871
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Sean Maloney advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 18.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Chele Farley advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 18.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Chele Farley advanced from the Conservative Party primary for U.S. House New York District 18.

Independence Party primary election

The Independence Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Sean Maloney advanced from the Independence Party primary for U.S. House New York District 18.

Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Scott Smith advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House New York District 18.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Serve America Movement Party primary election

The Serve America Movement Party primary election was canceled. Scott Smith advanced from the Serve America Movement Party primary for U.S. House New York District 18.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Sean Maloney advanced from the Working Families Party primary for U.S. House New York District 18.

2016

See also: New York's 18th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Sean Maloney (D) defeated Phil Oliva (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Maloney was a member of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Frontline Program, which was designed to help protect vulnerable Democratic incumbents heading into the 2016 election. Oliva defeated Kenneth Del Vecchio in the Republican primary, while incumbent Maloney faced no primary challenger. The primary elections took place on June 28, 2016.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSean Maloney Incumbent 55.6% 162,060
     Republican Phil Oliva 44.4% 129,369
Total Votes 291,429
Source: New York Board of Elections


U.S. House, New York, District 18 Republican Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Oliva 57% 3,574
Kenneth Del Vecchio 43% 2,696
Total Votes 6,270
Source: New York State Board of Elections

2014

BattlegroundRace.jpg
See also: New York's 18th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 18th Congressional District of New York held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Sean Maloney (D) defeated Nan Hayworth (R) and Scott Smith ("Send Mr. Smith") in the general election. In the primary election on June 24, 2014, Maloney ran uncontested for the Democratic and Working Families Party nominations, but Hayworth defeated him in the Independence Party primary. Hayworth also ran unopposed for the Republican and Conservative Party nominations. Smith did not run in the primary, but he ran as an independent ("Send Mr. Smith") candidate in the general.

New York's 18th was considered a battleground district in 2014. Maloney beat Hayworth in 2012 by a mere 3.7 percent margin of victory, and President Barack Obama won the district by only 4.3 percent. This election was also expected to be competitive because Maloney and Hayworth faced off only two years prior. Hayworth held a U.S. House seat in the 19th District from 2010-2012, and after New York's redistricting, was defeated by Maloney in the 2012 18th Congressional District election.

U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSean Maloney Incumbent 49.7% 88,993
     Republican Nan Hayworth 47.8% 85,660
     Send Mr. Smith Scott Smith 2.4% 4,294
     N/A Write-in votes 0.1% 144
Total Votes 179,091
Source: New York State Board of Elections, NYS Board of Elections Rep. in Congress Election Returns November 4, 2014," accessed August 30, 2021

Back on the ballot

The New York State Board of Elections invalidated Smith's petition to run in the 2014 congressional election, but on September 19, 2014, state Supreme Court Justice Sandra Sciortino reversed the board's decision after Smith challenged in court.[3][15]

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Scott Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2014

Smith listed the following issues, among others, on his campaign website:[16]

  • Affordable Care Act (ACA): It is my opinion that the Affordable Care Act should be repealed and replaced for the following reasons; first, the manner in which it was produced and the legislative process by which it was passed were both flawed and deceitful. Second, it does more harm than good, and we have only begun to feel the harm.
I believe, however, that it should not be done hastily or haphazardly, as that was part of the problem with the ACA itself. We must do what Congress failed to do. Identify what is working and what is not. Walk through all of the "what ifs" and the "if, thens" working out how each action and subsequent consequence will be addressed before it ever leaves the walls of the Capitol. It should not be done on an election schedule, but rather on a get it right for the American people schedule.
  • The Economy & Jobs: Like so many, I have a hard time putting much faith in anything the government says on these topics. I believe that government more often than not is in the way of economic prosperity and hinders job growth. The best thing the government can do for both the economy and jobs is to reduce it's politically driven meddling and create an atmosphere of certainty for businesses, employees and consumers alike. That will be difficult given the degree to which the faith and trust of the people have been abused.
  • The Tax Code: Our tax system must be reformed. It is overgrown and convoluted, and in it’s current form it truly serves as no more than a tool to punish and reward various interests. I do not have a simple answer to how it should be remade, but it must be simpler and it must remove the ability of our government to use it in the fashion that it has. Some suggest a flat tax, others a VAT tax, and other various formats. The problem I see is that the trust that must exist between the people and our institutions in undertaking such a task is broken. This only further highlights the need to elect new independent representation in government.
  • The 2nd Amendment & NY SAFE Act: The 2nd amendment is part of our constitution, and if elected to serve I would swear an oath to protect and defend the constitution including the 2nd amendment. If I did not intend to keep the oath, then I would have no business seeking the office.
Although I recognize it is State law and I am running for Federal office I will share my opinion on the NY SAFE Act as I believe it is exemplary of what ails our legislative process at every level of government. It is a perfect example of legislation driven by political motives. Those who debated the law did not even know the vocabulary they were using. It was motivated by a desire to be the first to legislate following the tragedies of the day and to serve the higher political ambitions of our Governor. I believe the NY SAFE Act should be repealed.

[17]

—Scott Smith, Campaign website (archive)

See also


External links

Footnotes


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