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R Republican · U.S. House 22, New York · Nov 3, 2026

Kailee
Buller

Republican challenger Kailee Buller is running for New York's 22nd Congressional District in the 2026 midterms.

Background

Kailee Buller is the Republican challenger for New York's 22nd Congressional District in the November 2026 general election, running against Democratic incumbent John Mannion. 11018

Buller is an Auburn, New York native who graduated from the University at Buffalo with a B.A. in political science in 2011, having transferred from Syracuse University. She began her career as a tax and fiscal policy analyst and worked on issues involving the grocery, corn, and soy industries. 820

She held several leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the first Trump administration, including chief of staff to the deputy secretary. She later served as president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association and the Edible Oil Producers Association. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed her as the state's 8th Congressional District representative on the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 20

Most recently, Buller served as chief of staff to the USDA secretary, a position she resigned to run for Congress. She announced her congressional campaign on March 4, 2026. The FEC lists her candidacy type as "Challenger." 1810

At a glance

Party
Republican
Running for
U.S. House · District 22, New York
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Website
kaileebuller.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 22
    debate
    Second Buller–Mannion debate scheduled for October 22 on NewsChannel 9 WSYR

    Coverage from October 6 reported that a further debate between Buller and Mannion, hosted by NewsChannel 9 WSYR, was scheduled for October 22.

    Candidates clash over Trump, Iran and immigration in NY-22 debate · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oct 9
    endorsement
    Trump urges Syracuse rally crowd to vote for Buller; she appears at event

    At his Syracuse rally, Trump publicly urged attendees to support Buller. She appeared at the event and used the occasion to criticize New York taxes and clean-energy initiatives while promoting local drilling.

    Trump backs local, statewide GOP candidates during rally in Syracuse · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Oct 5
    debate
    Buller and Mannion hold first debate, clashing over Trump, immigration, and workplace allegations

    In their first debate (reported on October 6), Buller argued she would work more effectively with Trump than Mannion, gave Trump a 'B' grade, and said ICE had made 'tragic' mistakes while opposing cuts to its budget. She also accused Mannion of 'covering up' an independent counsel's report about workplace allegations from his state Legislature tenure; Mannion called the accusation a 'political stunt.'

    Mannion, Buller spar over Trump, immigration and more in Syracuse.com debate · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Oct 3
    news
    Buller appears solo on WRVO's Campbell Conversations after Mannion declines debate

    WRVO's program had been intended as a debate, but Mannion declined the invitation, so Buller appeared alone on the Campbell Conversations broadcast.

    Kailee Buller on the Campbell Conversations · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sep 17
    news
    Buller accepts Central Current debate; Mannion declines invitation

    Central Current reported that Buller had accepted its debate invitation while incumbent Rep. John Mannion declined. Buller called Mannion's decision a 'misstep' and said she had looked forward to answering questions before a live audience.

    Rep. John Mannion declines Central Current debate, appearing ... · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. Aug 1
    endorsement
    Trump endorses Kailee Buller for NY-22

    Former President Donald Trump endorsed Buller in August 2026, according to her race profile on Smarter.Vote. A specific date within the month was not reported.

    Kailee Buller (R) – NY-22 House 2026 | Smarter.Vote · Sep 27, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Claudia Tenney, U.S. Representative for NY-24 official
    The Rome Sentinel politics page reports that Tenney endorsed Buller, but no date was established in the sources retrieved. romesentinel.com
  • Cayuga County Conservative Party organization
    Listed as an endorsement on Buller's iVoterGuide voter-guide profile. ivoterguide.com
  • Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, and Lisa McClain (House Republican leaders) official
    The four House Republican leaders issued a joint endorsement, published by Buller's campaign on August 25, 2026. kaileebuller.com · Aug 25, 2026
  • Donald Trump, President of the United States official
    Trump's endorsement post is reproduced in the Trump Archive; local reporting also covered it. trump-archive.com · Aug 13, 2026
  • Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate for governor official
    Buller's campaign announced Blakeman's endorsement on May 14, 2026. kaileebuller.com · May 14, 2026
  • Conservative Party of New York State organization
    The Conservative Party of New York State noted Buller had earned endorsements from the state Conservative Party and Republican and Conservative parties in Cayuga, Onondaga, Madison, Cortland, and Oneida counties. cpnys.org · Apr 11, 2026
  • Republican and Conservative Party county chairs in NY-22 district (all county chairs) official
    Buller entered the race with the backing of all Republican and Conservative Party County Chairs in the district. A March 5 Rome Sentinel report confirmed chairs of all NY-22 Republican committees had endorsed her. kaileebuller.com · Mar 4, 2026
  • Republican and Conservative Party county chairs in NY-22 district (all county chairs) organization
    Same announcement also reflects Conservative Party county chairs' backing. The April 11 Conservative Party of NY post specifies Cayuga, Onondaga, Madison, Cortland, and Oneida counties. romesentinel.com · Mar 4, 2026

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$267K
Spent
$81K
Cash on hand
$187K

As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6NY22213(opens in a new tab)

Sources 17

  1. [1] Trump backs local, statewide GOP candidates during rally in Syracuse(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
  2. [2] Candidates clash over Trump, Iran and immigration in NY-22 debate(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
  3. [3] Mannion, Buller spar over Trump, immigration and more in Syracuse.com debate(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
  4. [4] Kailee Buller on the Campbell Conversations(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  5. [5] Kailee Buller on the Campbell Conversations(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  6. [6] Kailee Buller (R) – NY-22 House 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
  7. [7] Rep. John Mannion declines Central Current debate, appearing ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
  8. [8] Kailee Buller — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
  9. [9] Affordability, Pres. Trump link key issues in NY 22nd dist ... - WAER(opens in a new tab) Sep 11, 2026
  10. [10] Politics(opens in a new tab) Sep 10, 2026
  11. [11] Voter Guide Profile for NY U.S. House, District 22 candidate(opens in a new tab) Sep 9, 2026
  12. [12] House Republican Leadership Backs Kailee Buller as NY-22 Race Heats Up - Kailee Buller for Congress(opens in a new tab) Aug 25, 2026
  13. [13] Thursday, August 13, 2026 - Trump Archive(opens in a new tab) Aug 13, 2026
  14. [14] Weekly Wrap Up 4/10/26 - Conservative Party of New York State(opens in a new tab) Apr 11, 2026
  15. [15] Media - Kailee Buller for Congress(opens in a new tab) Mar 23, 2026
  16. [16] Former USDA official launches campaign for NY-22(opens in a new tab) Mar 5, 2026
  17. [17] Kailee Buller Announces Campaign for Congress in NY-22(opens in a new tab) Mar 4, 2026
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