Methodology
Purpose
This site documents publicly available statements and actions by New York’s 23rd Congressional District representative using official government records and archived sources.
Our Process
1. Source Collection
We monitor:
- Official congressional website press releases
- Official social media accounts
- Congress.gov voting records
- Floor statements and official remarks
- Established news sources
- FEC campaign finance filings
- CBO and federal agency analyses
2. Verification Standards
Every entry on this site must meet these criteria:
- Primary sources only: We link directly to congress.gov, official websites, and archived pages
- Complete context: Full quotes with dates and circumstances
- Archived evidence: All sources archived via Archive.org for permanence
- Factual accuracy: Claims verified against multiple official sources
- No speculation: We document what was said and done, not motives or intentions
3. What We Document
Statements: Press releases, social media posts, newsletters, floor speeches, and public remarks
Actions: Congressional votes, bill sponsorships, committee participation
Comparisons: Side-by-side presentation of statements and corresponding actions
Patterns: Recurring gaps between rhetoric and legislative record
4. What We Don’t Do
- Make accusations of criminal conduct
- Speculate about motives or intentions
- Present opinion as fact
- Use anonymous or unverifiable sources
- Selectively edit quotes to change meaning
Why This Site Exists: The Local Media Gap
What Local Media HAS Covered
- WSKG has reported on the empty-seat town hall movement, constituent protests, and Medicaid impact analysis. It is the most consistent source of independent coverage in the district.
- The Post-Journal (Jamestown) conducts substantive interviews and publishes critical guest commentaries.
- The Buffalo News produced analysis of the OBBBA’s impact on district hospitals.
- WGRZ and MyTwinTiers have covered security incidents, office closures, and election results.
What Local Media Has NOT Covered
The following publicly available information has received no examination from any local news outlet:
| Topic | Public Record | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Missed vote rate | 3.9% — nearly double the House median of 2.0% (GovTrack) | None |
| Environmental score | 0% LCV score in 2024; 3% lifetime | None |
| Campaign finance | ~44% PAC dependency; energy-sector donor alignment | None |
| Donor geography | What percentage are NY-23 residents? | None |
| Cost-transfer mechanism | How federal cuts become county tax increases | None |
The Pattern
Multiple local outlets publish Langworthy press releases verbatim or with minimal editing, particularly grant announcements.
No local newspaper editorial board has published a formal performance evaluation of Langworthy since he took office.
Why This Matters
A citizen-run accountability site performing functions no professional newsroom in the district has undertaken is itself a finding about the state of local political journalism.
This site exists to fill that gap using the same public records any journalist could access.
Verdict Labels
We use standardized verdict labels:
| Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|
| TRUE | Claim is accurate |
| MOSTLY TRUE | Accurate but missing context |
| MISLEADING | Technically accurate but creates false impression |
| MOSTLY FALSE | Mostly inaccurate with minor accurate elements |
| FALSE | Claim is factually incorrect |
| FALSE ATTRIBUTION | Claim attributes something to wrong source/cause |
| CONTRADICTION | Statement conflicts with documented actions |
| DEFLECTION | Response avoids addressing the actual question |
| NON-RESPONSIVE | Constituent concern not addressed |
| MISSING CONTEXT | Key information omitted that changes meaning |
| DOCUMENTED PATTERN | Recurring behavior established by multiple instances |
| NOT SUPPORTED | Claim lacks evidence |
| DISPUTED BY OFFICIALS | Claim contradicted by statements from relevant officials |
Corrections Policy
Accuracy is paramount. If we make an error:
- We will correct it prominently and immediately
- We will note the correction with a timestamp
- We will explain what was incorrect and why
If you believe we’ve made an error, please contact us with documentation at langworthywatch@gmail.com.
Independence
This is an independent research project by constituents of NY-23. It is not affiliated with any political campaign, party organization, or advocacy group.
We do not accept funding from political organizations or PACs.
Transparency
All sources are linked and archived. Readers can verify every claim independently.
Our fact-checks cite:
- Congress.gov for voting records
- CBO for fiscal analyses
- FEC for campaign finance data
- Official press releases (archived)
- Established news organizations
- Federal and state agency reports
Contact
- Email: langworthywatch@gmail.com
- Submit correspondence: Correspondence submission form
Last updated: February 7, 2026