John Mannion

An independent candidate lost his bid today to secure a ballot spot to challenge Rep. John Mannion in November’s election for the 22nd Congressional District seat.

The state Board of Elections ruled at a meeting in Albany that Will Staton, of Syracuse, failed to obtain enough valid signatures from 22nd District voters to qualify for a spot on the ballot.

Staton submitted petitions with no more than 3,400 signatures, the board said. The state requires independent candidates to obtain at least 3,500 valid signatures from registered district voters to be listed on the ballot.

The decision sets up a two-person race in November between Mannion, D-Geddes, and Republican challenger Kailee Buller.

Staton, a self-employed educational consultant, launched his longshot campaign in October, saying he was fed up with the nation’s two-party system and polarized politics. A former Democrat, he became an independent voter about three years ago.

The ruling by state election officials comes after three Democrats and one Republican from the 22nd District filed objections challenging the validity of petitions Staton filed last month.

Staton told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard on Friday that he realized after filing the petitions that he didn’t have the minimum number of signatures required to qualify for the ballot.

He criticized both major political parties and New York’s electoral system for making it difficult for independent candidates like himself to run for public office.

“This is a system designed to keep money in and keep people out,” Staton said.

He called the challenges to his petitions “an anti-democratic response” that disenfranchised the 22nd District voters who signed his petition.

“It’s frustrating and disappointing this is ending now, but I have learned a whole lot,” Staton said. “If anything, this experience inspired me.”

Staton said he does not intend to endorse either Mannion or Buller before the November election.

The 22nd Congressional District has about 30,000 more registered Democratic voters than Republicans. Mannion was elected to his first term in 2024 by almost 10 percentage points.

The district spans all of Onondaga and Madison counties, and parts of Cayuga, Cortland and Oneida counties.