The race to represent Chautauqua County — and a host of other counties — in Congress in 2023 is taking shape.

Last week, the Erie County Democratic Committee endorsed Max Della Pia, who was part of an eight-way primary for the Democratic Party’s nomination to oppose Rep. Tom Reed in 2018. he lost the primary by about 230 votes after absentee ballots were counted.

On Monday, county Republicans endorsed Rep. Claudia Tenney, who is currently representing the 22nd Congressional District but who will move inside the boundaries of the newly drawn 23rd Congressional District.

Tenney’s endorsements include former President Donald J. Trump and the county Republican Committees in Erie, Livingston, Chemung, Schuyler, Wyoming and Cortland counties.

“The Chautauqua County Republican Committee is honored to endorse Congresswoman Tenney for New York’s 23rd District. Over the past month, I’ve gotten to know Claudia as a strong conservative leader and compassionate advocate for our Upstate values. Claudia is leading the charge in Washington to secure the southern border, fund our local police, and stop the Biden Administration’s tax and spend polices that are crushing our economy. I know Claudia Tenney will be a champion for Chautauqua County in Congress and look forward to working closely with her.” said Chautauqua County Republican Committee Chairman Nacole Ellis.

Della Pia is a retired Air Force colonel who also worked five years for Lockheed Martin. He has practiced law as a defense attorney, owned his own practice, and worked in the US Senate as a Brookings Fellow/Military Legislative Assistant on Senator Carl Levin’s personal staff and as an Air Force Senate Liaison Officer for the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. After retiring from the military in 2008, he worked for Lockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed) as a business development analyst senior staff.