Christopher R. Schmidt Announces Independent Campaign for Congress
- chrisforny21
- Dec 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 24
“It’s time to put the North Country ahead of Washington and Wall Street.”
Glens Falls, NY — [12/10/2025] — Christopher Schmidt, a lifelong North Country native and community advocate, today announced his Independent campaign for Congress in New York’s 21st District. Schmidt described his run as a fight to return power to everyday people and break what he called “the grip of political insiders who have run Washington into the ground.”
“I grew up in a place where people fix what’s broken, spend responsibly, and speak plainly,” Schmidt said. “That’s the opposite of how Washington operates. In DC, they waste money, bury the truth in thousand-page bills, and act like the voters don’t deserve a say. I’m running to bring real-world values back into a government that’s forgotten them.”
“Washington doesn’t fear the people — and that’s the problem.”
Schmidt said he is entering the race because he believes the federal government has grown disconnected from basic responsibility and accountability.
“Out here, if you mismanage money, you lose the farm, you lose the business, you lose the house,” he said. “In Washington, they mismanage money and send the bill to future generations. I’m done watching it. We cannot run a nation the way DC runs its books.”
A core priority Schmidt highlighted is addressing the national debt and federal overspending.
“You can’t keep borrowing from the future and expect the country to stand,” he said. “If you ran a family or a farm like Congress runs the federal budget, you’d be bankrupt. It’s time to put discipline back into the government.”
Two Major Transparency Reforms
Schmidt reiterated two reforms he intends to pursue if elected:
1. Districtwide Public Polling Before Major Votes
Schmidt said he will publish regular public surveys and polls before voting on key legislation, giving residents a direct channel to weigh in.
“When a bill comes up, the first people I ask will be the people who actually live here,” he said. “Not lobbyists. Not think tanks. Not party leadership. The people of this district — out loud, on the record.”
2. The Single Subject Limitation Act
Schmidt said the first bill he plans to introduce would require every federal bill to address a single issue.
“One bill, one topic, one vote,” Schmidt said. “No more burying unrelated junk inside thousand-page packages. No more hiding things from the public. If Congress wants something passed, they can put it on a clean bill and debate it in the daylight.”
Local Strength, Rural Values, Next-Generation Leadership
Schmidt said NY-21 has had its time in the national spotlight, and now the district needs leadership anchored in the community.
“We need a next-generation wave of homegrown leadership,” he said. “People rooted here. People who don’t answer to Washington or Albany. People who actually understand what it’s like when energy prices go up, when farms struggle, or when a small town loses another business.”
He said his campaign will focus on:
Lowering energy and food costs through competition, transparency, and support for local producers.
Rebuilding rural infrastructure, including water systems, broadband, and roads.
Protecting Social Security and opposing any attempt to raise the retirement age or weaken benefits.
Strengthening rural healthcare, including staffing support for clinics and emergency services.
Standing up for local families and farmers instead of corporate monopolies.
“I’m not running to join them — I’m running to shake them up.”
Schmidt emphasized that he is not entering politics to fit in with Washington culture.
“I’m not going to DC to be another suit in a meeting,” Schmidt said. “I’m going to stand up for people who work hard, pay their taxes, and get ignored. If you’re tired of being talked over, overlooked, or dismissed — this campaign is for you.”
He concluded:
“This district belongs to the people who live here. Not the insiders. Not the parties. And certainly not the political machines. It’s time someone from the North Country went to Washington and reminded them who they work for.”
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