CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 82% 17% 94% 4% 1997 80 19 94 3 1996 77 22 93 7 1995 88 11 96 2 1994 78 21 97 1 1993 81 16 92 3 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 98 1997 95 1996 98 1995 98 1994 98 1993 94	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 100% n/a 22% 4 % 1997 95 100 20 8 1996 95 100 19 5 1995 95 100 13 8 1994 95 100 33 5 1993 95 100 18 4
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

NEW YORK 26 : South - Kingston; Binghamton; Ithaca

The 26th has been a casualty of changing times. IBM, a major employer in the district, laid off much of its workforce in the 1990s to regain its competitiveness in a quickly changing computer market, although it still maintains a strong presence. Defense contractors in Binghamton were hit hard by post-Cold War budget cuts. And the Catskills' once famous Borscht Belt resorts have declined, passed over by tourists who can now afford to vacation in more exotic locales.

But the 26th, which meanders from the Hudson River to Ithaca at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, has recovered by using Cornell U. and SUNY-Binghamton to recruit new computer and electronics firms.

As in most upstate districts, the many rural residents provide a conservative foundation that favors the GOP, but the 26th's liberal-leaning towns make it unusually competitive.

Ithaca, home to Cornell and Ithaca College, remains a haven for liberal activists. The town elected a Socialist mayor to three terms in the early 1990s, and it circulates its own currency, Ithaca Hours, which is accepted in more than 350 locations. Broome County's Triple Cities - Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott - have a mix of high-tech employees and blue-collar workers, making them marginal political territory.

Major Industry
Higher education, computers, manufacturing, agriculture

Population
580,540 (1990)

Cities
Binghamton, 48,294; Ithaca, 28,507; Newburgh, 26,248 (1990)

People
46% urban, 43% rural; 13% age 65+ (ranks 16 of 31 in state; middle third nationally); 54% married couples, 25% married couples with children; 23% college educated (ranks 12 of 31 in state; top third nationally); 61% white collar (ranks 17 of 31 in state; middle third nationally), 23% blue collar (ranks 12 of 31 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
91% white, 6% black, 2% Asian; 4% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$30,335 (ranks 19 of 31 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh: military headquarters and residence for George Washington from 1782-83.

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