BINGHAMTON – Less than three months into his first term in office, Rep. Anthony Brindisi already has a challenger for his 22nd Congressional District seat.

Thursday, Binghamton-area native George Phillips announced he will challenge Brindisi in 2020. According to the biography on his campaign website, Phillips has spent much of his career as an educator, both in high school and college. He also served as an aide to Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey.

“I am running because I believe that we need bold national reforms to continue to unleash the full potential of the American people and lift up the people of Upstate New York who have suffered so much due to poor policies from Albany,” said Phillips in an email statement. “We need to keep going with bold reforms. Our campaign has a tremendous network in place, we are launching a vigorous campaign effort and are confident of victory.”

Phillips previously ran for the seat in 2010 and 2016, losing both times.

Brindisi, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Claudia Tenney in a close race that required an extensive recount last November.