VoterLens
The Catholic University of America—Doctor of Philosophy, Theology
Data last updated 10/27/2026
Aaron Gies is a candidate for U.S. House in New York's 23rd Congressional District in 2026. He is listed as an associate professor of theology and Franciscan Studies at St. Bonaventure University, with prior experience as an assistant professor at the same university.
Committee Assignments: No committee assignments available.
Aaron Gies supports a universal healthcare approach, including basic care and mental health coverage, lower prescription drug costs, and protection for rural hospitals, nursing homes, and local providers. He has also said he wants to reverse healthcare cuts tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and move toward single-payer healthcare for NY-23 residents.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Gies supports building a universal healthcare system that guarantees stable, accessible, cost-effective basic care for every American, including mental health care.
SourceGies said he wants to make sure the district moves toward single-payer healthcare that can cover everybody in NY-23.
SourceGies said he is running to reverse healthcare cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he argues threaten hospitals and nursing homes in NY-23.
SourceGies says he would fight to lower prescription drug costs and end corporate price-gouging in healthcare.
SourceGies says he would fight to protect rural hospitals, nursing homes, and local providers as part of his healthcare platform.
SourceAaron Gies frames his Economy & Jobs agenda around affordability: lowering everyday costs, reversing tariffs, raising wages, strengthening unions, and shifting economic policy toward workers, small businesses, family farms, and local communities rather than large corporations. He also opposes data-center projects he views as poor local economic deals because of public subsidies, high resource use, and limited job creation.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Gies supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 immediately, strengthening unions and worker protections, and expanding local investment so communities benefit from growth.
SourceGies says Congress should reverse Trump-era tariffs, arguing they are raising costs and hitting farmers particularly hard.
SourceGies argues that most farm bill benefits should go to farmers rather than big agriculture, corporate farms, and companies selling fertilizer and seed.
SourceGies opposes what he calls irresponsible data center buildout and says a moratorium is needed to assess local costs, subsidies, environmental impacts, and job benefits.
SourceGies says his campaign is focused on making a good life affordable by addressing the cost of gas, food, housing, and health care.
SourceAaron Gies frames immigration as a long-broken system requiring both strong, secure borders and fair treatment for law-abiding immigrants. He supports comprehensive legal reform, due process for undocumented people, a guest-worker program, pathways for some immigrants already in the country, deportation for violent offenders or recent unlawful border crossers, and reforming rather than abolishing ICE.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Gies says he supports strong, secure borders while also backing fair treatment for law-abiding immigrants affected by incoherent immigration laws.
SourceGies supports immigration reform that includes a fair process for new entries, due process for undocumented people, a guest-worker program tied to economic needs, and consistent enforcement.
SourceIn an August 17, 2026 interview, Gies defended the rationale for TPS when countries face severe destabilization, food or medicine shortages, war, or failed-state conditions.
SourceGies said some people in the country illegally should receive a path to citizenship, specifically citing Dreamers, while others should have a path to permanent residency.
SourceGies said he does not think ICE should be abolished, arguing instead that the agency needs reform to address due-process and habeas-corpus violations while still carrying out deportations after criminal sentences.
SourceAaron Gies frames climate and energy policy around environmental stewardship, affordability, local benefit, and resilience. He supports renewable-energy investment, clean water infrastructure, and healthy farmland, while opposing fracking, new nuclear projects, and what he calls irresponsible data-center buildout.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Gies says renewable energy would make NY-23 more resilient and energy independent and says he would fight for federal dollars for renewable-energy projects while ensuring local concerns are heard and local people benefit directly.
SourceGies states that careful stewardship of the environment is necessary to making a good life affordable for everyone.
SourceGies says upgrading municipal water systems is an important priority to support growth and keep watersheds clean.
SourceGies says he opposes fracking and new nuclear projects as part of his environmental platform.
SourceIn an interview, Gies argued that a moratorium is necessary for new data centers, tying the issue to affordability and local impacts.
SourceAaron Gies emphasizes strengthening public education through more resources for students and educators, especially in rural schools, special education, Head Start, Job Corps, and Pell Grants. He also supports universal free school meals and workforce training as part of an education access agenda.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Gies supports protecting and expanding funding for rural schools, special education, and workforce training.
SourceGies supports guaranteeing universal free school meals so that no child has to try to learn while hungry.
SourceGies opposes cuts to federal education investments and highlights the need to support rural schools, special education, Head Start, Job Corps, and Pell Grants.
SourceGies says strong public schools require ensuring educators and students have the resources they need to succeed.
SourceAaron Gies frames public safety as a core responsibility of government, emphasizing evidence-based public health safeguards, secure-but-fair border policy, privacy protections against surveillance and identity theft, and gun-safety measures such as universal background checks and red flag laws while acknowledging Second Amendment rights.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Gies says public safety is a primary responsibility of government and supports impartial research, monitoring, testing, and expert guidance to safeguard public health.
SourceGies supports universal background checks and red flag laws to keep guns away from people likely to use them to commit crimes, while saying support for the rule of law includes support for the Second Amendment.
SourceGies supports stronger privacy laws, including protections against invasive AI surveillance, the right to be forgotten, control over one’s digital likeness, and stronger protections against identity theft.
SourceGies supports strong, secure borders, fair treatment for law-abiding immigrants, due process for undocumented people, a guest worker program, and consistent enforcement.
SourceVote Smart
https://j.futurefacts.votesmart.io/candidate/biography/238776/aaron-giesFetched: biography, location, education, professional background, committees
Ballotpedia
https://ballotpedia.org/New_York%27s_23rd_Congressional_District_election%2C_2026Fetched: biography
FEC API
https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/candidate/H6NY23559/totals/Fetched: totalRaised, totalSpent, cashOnHand
Aaron Gies for Congress - NYSUT press release
https://aaronforny23.com/press-release/nysut-endorses-aaron-gies-ny23/Fetched: endorsements
National Security Leaders for America
https://nsl4a2026endorsements.substack.com/p/aaron-gies-dFetched: endorsements
AOL / WIVB
https://www.aol.com/articles/democratic-candidate-aaron-gies-challenge-232622000.htmlFetched: issuePositions
WIVB News 4
https://www.wivb.com/news/political-news/democratic-candidate-aaron-gies-to-challenge-for-ny-23/Fetched: issuePositions
Aaron Gies for Congress priorities anchor
https://aaronforny23.com/#prioritiesFetched: issuePositions
Aaron Gies for Congress universal healthcare anchor
https://aaronforny23.com/#universal-healthcareFetched: issuePositions
WKBW
https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/aaron-gies-discusses-affordability-health-care-data-centers-in-ny-23-congressional-raceFetched: issuePositions
Spectrum News 1
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2026/10/23/ny23-candidates-nick-langworthy-and-aaron-gies-highlight-a-preview-of-the-race-Fetched: issuePositions
OpenCampaign
https://www.opencampaign.com/politicians-in-united-states/198405/aaron-gies/issue-positionsFetched: issuePositions
Podscan / Joe Beamer Show
https://www.podscan.fm/podcasts/joe-beamer/episodes/aaron-gies-joins-the-show-to-discuss-langworthy-debate-immigration-and-moreFetched: issuePositions
Aaron Gies for Congress
https://aaronforny23.com/press-release/nysut-endorses-aaron-gies-ny23/Fetched: issuePositions