CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. -- Democrat John Plumb of Lakewood is running for the 23rd Congressional District and says providing economic opportunity and keeping the country safe are his two top priorities.

"I have served under multiple presidents, both Republican and Democrat, in the Navy, in the Senate, in the Pentagon and even on the National Security Council," said Plumb, a Randolph native.

Plumb is also critical of Republican incumbent Tom Reed's recent endorsement of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States.

"Donald Trump is a danger to the United States of America. He is weakening our national security just running for president, and Tom Reed's embrace of him and endorsement of him, shows that Tom Reed, just like Donald Trump, is unfit to represent us," said Plumb.

Reed recently met with Trump in Washington and touts the candidate's private sector experience, as well as his ability to unite the party.

"We need to recognize we cannot continue a Clinton administration that will follow up on eight years of a Obama's administration and the values associated with it," said Rep Reed, R-23rd District.

Reed is seeking his fourth term in office and says fixing a broken tax code and creating jobs remain his top priority. 

"The job is not done. We're making some headway, but we got a lot more work to do," said Reed.

Gary Perry of Tioga County looks to challenge Reed in the upcoming Republican congressional primary and says he too is critical of the Trump endorsement.

"I believe that Mr. Reed feels he may have a better opportunity crippling my campaign and of winning the primary in our congressional district if he jumps on the 'all aboard the Trump train' to ride on the coat-tails of the energy that Mr. Trump appears to have brought to this presidential election and perhaps this year's election cycles, especially here in New York state," said Perry, R-23rd District candidate.

"This movement is real, absolutely something you need to be listening to and engaged with," said Reed.

The Republican Congressional Primary is set for June 28.