U.S. House, New York 22nd Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New York's 22nd Congressional District?
John Mannion has the strongest record in New York's 22nd Congressional District. John Mannion scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Kailee Buller at 56, as of October 9, 2026. John Mannion's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Kailee Buller's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Kailee Buller
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
John Mannion
On the ballot as John W. Mannion
73 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 60
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 88
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Kailee Buller
- On the record2018
As a USDA policy adviser in the first Trump administration she received a White House counsel ethics waiver to advise on the Dietary Guidelines despite her prior food industry lobbying.
- Credit2025-01
Appointed chief of staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in January 2025.
John Mannion
- On the record2025-06-12
Shouted profanities at Rep. Mike Lawler on the House floor on June 12, 2025; his office defended the outburst. No House action was reported.
Sources: WSYR-TV via Yahoo News, June 12, 2025, The Hill via Yahoo News, June 12, 2025
- On the record2024-08
A State Senate-ordered outside investigation into anonymous former staffers' June 2024 allegations of mistreatment in his Senate office was closed in August 2024 with a finding of no Senate policy violation.
- Credit2026-03
Held an open in-person town hall in Auburn in March 2026, one of several across the district reported by CNYCentral.
Source: CNYCentral, March 11, 2026
- Credit2025
Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act, the DC CRIMES Act and the SPEED Act in 2025 when House Democratic leaders voted Nay.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 6, Jan. 2025, Laken Riley Act, House Clerk Roll Call 270, 2025, DC CRIMES Act, House Clerk Roll Call 356, 2025, SPEED Act
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Kailee Buller. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 24, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10074612, FEC administrative fines search
John Mannion. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 is on file with the House Clerk, filed May 13, 2026. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076752, House Committee on Ethics site search for Mannion, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Kailee Buller. No public record found.
John Mannion. Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act, the DC CRIMES Act and the SPEED Act in 2025 when Democratic Leader Jeffries and Caucus Chair Aguilar voted Nay.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 6, Jan. 2025, Laken Riley Act, House Clerk Roll Call 270, 2025, DC CRIMES Act, House Clerk Roll Call 356, 2025, SPEED Act
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Kailee Buller. No public record found.
John Mannion. Held an open in-person town hall in Auburn in March 2026, and CNYCentral reports several town halls across the district. Gave a long-form interview to WRVO in June 2026. No 2026 debate record found.
Sources: CNYCentral, March 11, 2026, WRVO Public Media, June 27, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Kailee Buller. Served as USDA chief of staff from January 2025 to February 2026 and earlier as chief of staff to the deputy agriculture secretary. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: USDA announcement, Jan. 2025, Central Current
John Mannion. State senator from 2021 to 2024 and U.S. representative since 2025. A Senate-ordered outside investigation in 2024 found no violation of Senate policy. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee matter found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Mannion, Spectrum News 1, Aug. 30, 2024, House Committee on Ethics site search for Mannion
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Kailee Buller. Held senior appointed federal posts at USDA in two administrations, most recently chief of staff; no official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: USDA announcement, Jan. 2025
John Mannion. Has held sworn state and federal office since 2021. Took his House seat in January 2025, after the January 2021 electoral count; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Mannion
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Kailee Buller. Chief of staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2025 to 2026), earlier chief of staff to the deputy secretary, and president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association.
John Mannion. Served two terms in the New York State Senate (2021 to 2024) and has been in the U.S. House since January 2025. Taught biology and chemistry and led a teachers union before that.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Mannion
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Kailee Buller. Publishes issue positions on affordability, jobs and other topics, mostly in general terms.
Source: Campaign site
John Mannion. Sits on the House Agriculture and Education and Workforce committees and their subcommittees, holds no chair or ranking post, and publishes issue pages.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Office site, home page
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Kailee Buller. Publishes issue pages and offers a newsletter sign-up, and gave a long-form interview to WRVO. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, WRVO Public Media, June 27, 2026, Ballotpedia, Kailee Buller
John Mannion. Offers an e-newsletter, holds town halls, publishes issue pages and gave a long-form public radio interview. Completed Ballotpedia's survey in 2022 but not in 2026.
Sources: Office site, home page, CNYCentral, March 11, 2026, Ballotpedia, John Mannion
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Kailee Buller. Born and raised in Auburn, which is in the district; returned there in February 2026 after working in Washington. FEC by-state totals for 2026 show about 26 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kailee Buller, Central Current, WRVO Public Media, June 27, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
John Mannion. Born in Syracuse and lives in Geddes in Onondaga County, which lies wholly in the district. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 72 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Mannion, Central Current, WRVO Public Media, June 27, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Kailee Buller. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found. Led the National Oilseed Processors Association as president and CEO.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10074612
John Mannion. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Kailee Buller. No public record found.
John Mannion. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Kailee Buller. No public record found.
John Mannion. Missed 4 of 676 roll call votes, 0.6 percent, from January 2025 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Kailee Buller. No public record found.
John Mannion. Runs district offices in Syracuse and Utica with a casework team, and holds town halls, constituent coffees and county senior fairs.
Sources: Office site, Office Locations, Office site, home page, Office site, Events
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Kailee Buller. No public record found.
John Mannion. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Kailee Buller. No public record found.
John Mannion. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New York's 22nd Congressional District?
John Mannion has the strongest record in New York's 22nd Congressional District. John Mannion scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Kailee Buller at 56, as of October 9, 2026. John Mannion's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Kailee Buller's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New York's 22nd Congressional District in 2026?
Kailee Buller (Republican), John Mannion (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Kailee Buller a good candidate for Congress?
Kailee Buller scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is John Mannion a good candidate for Congress?
John Mannion scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 60 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 88 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New York race scored, and the New York 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.