Seneca County NY Democratic Committee

Democrats in the NY-24 Congressional District will go to the polls to choose the nominee who will run against Claudia Tenney in the Fall! We have two Candidates to choose from: Alissa Ellman and Diana Kastenbaum.

Alissa's Website          Diana's Website

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Born and raised in the hills of the Genesee Valley, Alissa Ellman is a proud New Yorker, veteran, mother, and public servant. 

Alissa grew up barefoot in Houghton, NY, a town with six stop signs. Before she could vote she had taken an oath to defend the United States, and spent years serving overseas, giving back to the country she loves. Alissa worked at Baghram Airfield helping oversee flights into, out of, and around Afghanistan. 

After returning from service Alissa was a teacher for underprivileged youths, helping her young neighbors turn their lives around while raising her daughters in Lockport. In 2025 she was working at the Department of Veteran Affairs helping veterans secure their benefits when she was fired by Elon Musk during the cuts made by DOGE. 

She became involved in her local community organizing town halls to talk about Claudia Tenney’s votes in Washington D.C. After she got no response from Claudia for months, Alissa decided to run for congress.

Read More at Alissa's Website

As CEO and owner of a tool and die casting company, Diana was one of only a handful of women leading this type of manufacturing business across North America. She helped build a family business that provided good-paying jobs and supported families throughout our region. Before that, she spent 25 years running her own company that trained and developed software for law firms across the country, combining her understanding of technology with her commitment to helping others succeed. Diana knows what it means to make payroll, build customer relationships, and create something that lasts. She’s created jobs, supported families, and understands the challenges facing small businesses and manufacturers in rural America

Diana’s dedication to our communities runs deep. As a Trustee of SUNY Genesee Community College, she has fought for accessible, affordable education that prepares our students for good careers. She serves on both state and national community college trustee organizations, advocating for students and institutions in Albany and Washington. Her expertise has led to appointments on the Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Committee for Genesee Community College and the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Rural National Advisory Council, where she helps shape workforce development programs that connect education to the good-paying jobs our communities need.

Her community involvement extends beyond education. Diana’s love for the arts began in her early years as an actress in New York, where she met her husband Hiram Kasten, a well-known actor and comedian. As professionals in the entertainment industry, both were long-time union members of Actors Equity and SAG/AFTRA. Diana’s devotion to the arts has continued throughout her life – she believes strongly that the arts are necessary and important in a civilized society, uplifting and inspiring people while giving them hope. This passion led her to serve on the board of GOART! (Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council), supporting the arts that enrich our communities. She has also served on the board of The Landmark Society of Genesee County, helping preserve the history and character that make our region special

Diana’s political journey began with a simple belief: everyone deserves a voice, and democracy works best when everyone can participate. Through Public Citizen, she organized grassroots events to fight the Citizens United decision and restore power to ordinary citizens over special interests.

Most recently, she co-founded Concerned Citizens for NY24, organizing town halls across our district to give neighbors a chance to be heard on the issues that matter most to their families. She has also rallied with several activist groups and attended marches throughout the district bringing attention to the issues facing not only NY24 but throughout the country. Her motto is “you can no longer sit on the sidelines when our democratic values are at stake, but also our very republic. The time is now!”

Learn More at Diana's Website