BUFFALO, N.Y. — In the Democratic primary for the 149th Assembly District, affordability is a top priority for all three candidates.

Karen Hoak, a deputy commissioner of highways for Erie County Department of Public Works, is taking on tenants' rights attorney Adam Bojak and M&T Bank businessman Kevin Deese.

Deese is framing himself as a "different kind of Democrat," focusing on limiting new data centers and securing a universal childcare pilot program.

"I mean, $2,000 a month, we're talking [in childcare costs]. My husband Jake and I would love to grow our family someday," he said. "Families like mine, and also those families that look a lot different from mine, are making these decisions that are not easy to make."

He says his 10-year battle to become a Naval officer after the Pentagon told him his HIV diagnosis would preclude him shows he’s willing to take on powerful institutions and win.

“I've got the kind of story that will open doors for me in Albany and very importantly, the work ethic to keep those doors open,” Deese added.

Universal childcare is a priority for Bojak as well.

He looks to also support passing universal healthcare though the New York Health Act, protections for undocumented immigrants with the New York for All Act, and affordable housing.

"Things like good cause eviction protection and rent control, but also making sure that we are building more housing because we definitely do not have enough around here," he said. "As far as affordability, that goes back to taxing the rich."

He says he has the relationships to get things done.

“These are not just slogans to us. These are things that we've been fighting for for a very long time. They mean something to us,” Bojak said.

Hoak is homing in on housing, utilities and healthcare as well.

"We are in a healthcare crisis," she said. "Come July, we've got almost half a million New Yorkers who are going to be without healthcare. We need to act on that now."

She says her experience in both the public and private sectors gives her valuable knowledge.

"I've been in construction for 20 years, and in that work I've gained experience collaborating and partnering with government agencies, the general public, contractors, private consultants and residents," Hoak said. “It's year-round work that really involves a lot of listening and growing relationships with community stakeholders.”

The race has reflected some infighting within the Democratic Party. Hoak is supported by the Erie County Democratic Committee, while Bojak is backed by Jon Rivera, the assemblyman who currently represents the 149th District. Rivera stepped down from the role to run for the state's 61st Senate seat vacated by Sean Ryan. He's running against former Erie County Democratic Committee chairman Jeremy Zellner.

Bojak says he's disappointed with how things are playing out, saying, "When I went before the ECDC, I actually asked them not to endorse. I believe all primaries should have the people decide. It shouldn't be where parties are weighing in and putting their fingers on the scale."

Hoak said these outside endorsements shouldn't play into voters' decisions.

"I'm focused on the 149th district. There is part of the overlap in the 61st, but I think each candidate in this race is tasked with making their identity known and focusing on this district and the results that they're going to deliver for the 149th," she added.

Meanwhile, Deese believes the other candidates in the race might feel that "it's their turn." He went on to add that he's happy to stay out of the "proxy wars," adding, "I'm someone that, frankly, gets along well with both of the kinds of factions that have emerged and will be very happy and well positioned to work with Democrats of all stripes in Albany to advance the priorities that I believe our district needs."

Bojak threw his own barbs toward Hoak and a series of mailers and social media ads in her favor, funded by the NY Future PAC.

"DraftKings and FanDuel put $41 million into a dark money PAC, which has spent almost $100,000 in our race already for one of my opponents," he said. "They are taking her own footage and putting it into their own ads, saying that she's going to tax the rich and things that are directly out of our platform. So it's a very cynical ploy by dark money to take our platform and try to use it against us."

Bojak’s campaign notes that state independent expenditure reporting shows that, since the interview, those monetary contributions have increased to more than $355K spent in this race.

Hoak fired back, saying that her campaign is not related to the PAC and that she herself was surprised to see the ads.

"The facts are that it's an independent expenditure, and by law, those funds are independent. There's no coordination with the campaign. I saw them at the same time that the general public saw them," she explained, adding that if she wins this position, she would only be beholden to the residents of the 149th Assembly district.

Come Election Day, all three candidates note that there isn't much difference in what they support, but that their way of getting results will be most effective.

"I think some people run because they want to be something, and some people run because they want to do something. And I want voters to know I'm in that category of someone who's running for this office because I want to do something right," said Deese.

"Running as a Democratic Socialist, we can say that the system is set up to benefit the people at the top, and we're the only ones who are speaking in a way to say this system itself is rotten to the core," said Bojak. "We're not here to reform the same system and allow it to continue to exploit and hurt people. We're here to create an entirely new system."

"With my background in construction and infrastructure and also having served in elected office before, but [also] my experience as a mom and understanding some of the challenges and the struggles that people are facing right now when it comes to raising their kids and getting them prepared for a future where they can take care of themselves and not just survive but thrive," said Hoak. "I'm somebody that they can count on, who's responsive, who's listening and understands that the priorities that I would take with me to Albany are their priorities."

New York's primary elections will be held on June 23. Early voting runs from June 13 to June 21.