Alexander Treadwell - 2008 Congressional Candidacy

2008 Congressional Candidacy

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 2008#District 20

Treadwell stepped down as state chairman in 2004 to become national committeeman. In 2006 some speculated that he would challenge Republican Congressman John E. Sweeney for reelection, but he did not file to do so. In April 2008, he filed the necessary paperwork to run for Congress to challenge Kirsten Gillibrand, who had defeated Sweeney in the 2006 election. Treadwell signed Americans For Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge and ran on the promise that he will never vote to increase taxes on individuals or businesses. He was defeated by Kirsten Gillibrand, who was re-elected with 62% of the vote. The campaign was extraordinarily expensive, with Treadwell spending $5.5 million, mostly from his own fortune.