NEW HARTFORD – Congressional candidate Claudia Tenney issued a challenge to incumbent Congressman Richard Hanna on Monday, calling for a public debate before the upcoming Republican primary election.

Tenney has accused Hanna of hiding from a debate, stating “The People of Upstate New York deserve a Representative who is responsible to the people and is willing to confront the opposition.”

“Thus far, my opponent has refused, despite having much to answer for in his four years in Congress,” she added. “Instead, he has engaged in political pandering in a last ditch attempt to appear conservative, while outside groups, like the American Unity PAC, have highlighted his liberal record.”

Meanwhile, the Hanna campaign continues to get endorsements from a number of local labor unions, most recently the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Local Union 201 and Rome Lab's Local Union 2612. Both organizations unanimously endorsed Hanna on Monday.