Bona theology prof Aaron Gies will run against Langworthy

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

OLEAN — Aaron Gies, a St. Bonaventure University theology professor, announced plans Thursday to run as a Democrat against Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-Niagara County.

Gies announced two months ago that he was forming an exploratory committee to look into running in the 23rd Congressional District.

Gies met recently with Democratic county chairmen from the nine-county 23rd Congressional District that includes all or parts of Cattaraugus, Allegany, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler and Tioga, counties

“The exploratory phase went very well,” Gies told the Olean Star in an interview Thursday.

“I was able to connect with activists and Democrat organizations across the 23rd Congressional District,” he said. “By attending demonstrations, coffees with Democrats and town halls, I’ve been able to build a team of folks from all corners of the district.”

Gies’ announcement comes less than a week after President Trump signed the “Big Beautiful Bill” of tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations at the expense of big cuts to programs like Medicaid and food stamps.

With 24% of the residents of the 23rd Congressional District on Medicaid, as many as 60,000 could lose their Medicaid eligibility, Gies said. “When you take that money out of the system, then the healthcare system doesn’t work for anyone.”

Eight of the hospitals in the sprawling 23rd Congressional District — including Olean General and Cuba Memorial Hospital — would be at risk of closing, he said. The district hospitals employ about 6,000 doctors, nurses and staff.

There are 123,300 households consisting of 20.8% the district receiving Medicaid benefits, 30.4% of children on Medicaid/CHIP and 17% of adults age 19-64. The district’s total Medicaid population last year was 254,964.

“It’s unconscionable that Rep. Langworthy would vote for the bill on these terms,” Gies said.

“We need to solve the affordability in healthcare by restoring the market mechanism. Patients have no choice and payers don’t negotiate with consumers, but middlemen. “It leads to higher prices,” he said. “No one knows who is paying for what. Healthcare is killing people in this district.”

The moral thing to do, Gies insisted, is “to move to a single payer system so no one has to go bankrupt or lose their house if they get sick.” Republicans, he said, are willing “to let it all crash down and see what happens.”

The next phase of Gies’ campaign will be “getting out and introducing myself to people and fairs, parades and picnics — and beginning to raise money. Nick Langworthy is very well funded, We are going to have to draw on networks and see if we can give him a good run.”

Langworthy won 65% of the 2024 vote when he ran for a second term against Democrat Tom Carle of Dunkirk.

“Looking at the registration numbers, we need to pull about 20% of the electorate outside the Democratic Party,” Gies said. “Almost a quarter of the voters are either blank (no political affiliation) or registered Independent who don’t pay much attention to politics — people who are just looking for a change.”

Gies said, “The American dream is out of reach for most people in our district. The GOP cuts in the bill are slash and burn budget cuts. But they are taking it further. Government only works when they put peoples’ concerns first.”

He added: “My solutions focus on lifting everyday people up. “It means lifting people up in the job market and investing in small businesses.”

Gies said President Trump “should get rid of the tariffs,” which are paid by American consumers and are a drag on the economy.

Affordability in education also needs to be addressed, Gies said. Public schools need re-investment. More needs to be done for students who want to learn a trade — in high school and in college.

“We shouldn’t be shutting down Job Corps training or making it harder to get Pell grants,” Gies said. “:When people get a good education, they produce more and lead happier lives.”

Gies, who attended the first demonstrations over Trump and Musk cuts out in front of Langworthy’s Olean district office, said he learned a lot from the demonstrations.

“There are a large number of people out there who love our democratic freedoms and are willing to fight for them,” Gies said.

The “No Kings” demonstration last month drew nearly 500 demonstrators to Lincoln Park, while more than 10 million people across the country demonstrated that weekend.

“Those who feel like they are alone need to come to one of these demonstrations,” Gies said.

There’s still plenty to protest, Gies said. “The militarization of police, a Congress who lets the president do what he wants and the politicization of the court.”

Gies said Langworthy “has been unresponsive to our concerns. I and thousands across the district have reached out to his offices. He has refused to meet with us. His form letters ignored our concerns. He dismissed us as people who have been bought and paid for by George Soros.”

Gies and his wife, Dr. Katie Gies, a local veterinarian, have an 11-year-old son, James. “He thinks my running is a good idea,” Gies added.

The campaign website is [aaronforny23.com](http://aaronforny23.com/).