Endorsements
2026 Candidates
The Steady State endorses candidates for Congress, Governor, and other national-security-relevant offices who show a consistent commitment to the rule of law regardless of party, support nonpartisan oversight of the Executive Branch, and understand the security challenges facing the country. Endorsed candidates must also uphold democratic norms — the peaceful transfer of power, rejection of political violence, and defense of civil liberties including a free press and the right to dissent. The Steady State does not endorse candidates who have worked to subvert democratic institutions, discredited the security community without evidence, or promoted disinformation or extremism.
Gregory Meeks (NY-05)
Gregory Meeks represents New York’s 5th Congressional District and has built a career focused on economic opportunity, international engagement, and strengthening communities. A graduate of Adelphi University and Howard University School of Law, he serves as the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee. Throughout his career, Meeks has championed infrastructure investment, small business growth, diversity and inclusion, affordable housing, gun violence prevention, and expanding America’s diplomatic leadership abroad.
George Latimer (NY-16)
George Latimer represents New York’s Sixteenth Congressional District, which includes parts of Westchester County and the Bronx, and has served in Congress since 2025. Before entering Congress, Latimer built a long career in state and local government, serving on the Rye City Council, Westchester County Board of Legislators, New York State Senate, and as Westchester County Executive. In Congress, Latimer serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including the Middle East and North Africa and South and Central Asia subcommittees, where his work encompasses U.S. foreign policy, security, and America’s relationships with key partners abroad. He also serves on the House Small Business Committee.
Tim Kennedy (NY-26)
Tim Kennedy represents New York’s Twenty-Sixth Congressional District and is running for reelection. Tim previously served in the New York State Senate, where he represented communities across Erie County and Western New York. In Congress, Kennedy has focused on strengthening the economy, supporting American manufacturing and infrastructure, expanding access to affordable health care, and protecting Social Security and Medicare. He also serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, where he is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology and a member of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, along with a seat on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Cait Conley (NY-17)
Cait Conley is running for Congress in New York’s 17th District. Hailing from Hudson Valley roots, she was the first in her family to graduate college after earning a nomination to West Point. She served 16 years as an Army officer, deploying six times to combat zones including Iraq and Afghanistan and earning three Bronze Stars. She then worked as Director for Counterterrorism on the White House National Security Council and at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) under President Biden, where she helped protect America’s elections and critical infrastructure.
Pat Ryan (NY-18)
Pat Ryan represents New York’s Eighteenth Congressional District and is an Army combat veteran. Raised in Ulster County, where his mother taught public school and his father ran a small business. He attended West Point and served two combat tours in Iraq as an Army intelligence officer. Elected Ulster County Executive in 2019, he led the county through the pandemic and invested in affordable housing and mental health services without raising taxes. In Congress, he continues to the principles every cadet is taught: “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.”