BUFFALO, N.Y. -- In many ways, Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy has been campaigning for the better part of the year.

Kennedy won a special election to fill New York's 26th Congressional District seat in late April. He's once again running as a favorite in the heavily blue district with Republican candidate Anthony Marecki not actively campaigning.

"I never take anything for granted and we are working hard each and every day to deliver for our community," Kennedy said.

However, the congressman admitted this campaign has been a little different because of the travel and time constraints associated with serving in Congress.

"When I'm in Washington so much, it doesn't allow me to knock on the doors the way that I love to but people know because I've been at their doorsteps before. Been in the (state) Senate for 14 years and the county legislature for six years before that so 20 years in government has allowed me to meet the people in the community," Kennedy said.

Kennedy, the first occupational therapist in the House, said he's focusing on local issues like health care, veterans affairs and the northern border but also on national issues.

"There's a scourge of gun violence. Women's rights are under attack. LGBTQ and labor rights and civil rights across the board are all under attack by a MAGA, extreme Republican government that right now holds the gavel in the House of Representatives. We need to change that," Kennedy said.