Election Day Digest: New York’s 19th Congressional District 

The 2024 race for New York’s 19th Congressional District sees incumbent Republican Marc Molinaro facing off again against Democratic challenger Josh Riley. The district, known for its competitive nature, is once again a key battleground in the fight for control of the House of Representatives with Cook currently rating it as R +.05. Biden won the area with just 51.2% in 2020 and the campaign is among the top spending House races nationally.

New York’s 19th District covers a large portion of the Hudson Valley and stretches into the Catskills, encompassing a mix of rural communities, small towns, and suburban areas. The district has historically been a swing district, flipping between Republicans and Democrats in recent election cycles. In 2018, Democrat Antonio Delgado won the seat, representing the district for two terms before becoming Lieutenant Governor of New York in 2022. Following his departure, Molinaro won the seat in a closely contested special election. 

Molinaro, a former Dutchess County Executive, has a background in local government and positions himself as a pragmatic, fiscally conservative policy maker. He gained statewide recognition when he ran for Governor in 2018 against then incumbent Andrew Cuomo. In Congress, Molinaro is ranked by The Lugar Center as the second most bipartisan Member and has focused his tenure thus far on public safety, expanding opportunities for people with disabilities, and affordability. While he has scored labor endorsements and pushed back against cuts to programs like SNAP, he has more recently started playing to the base of his party, whacking Riley on issues like immigration and voting to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Riley hit back after Molinaro amplified false claims on social media of Haitian migrants kidnapping and eating neighborhood pets in Springfield, Ohio. His campaign platform focuses on economic growth through lower taxes and reducing regulations on small businesses, expanding broadband access and infrastructure in rural areas, and addressing mental health. As of the latest filing Molinaro has $2.3 Million cash on hand.

Josh Riley, the Democratic challenger in the race, is a lawyer with experience working on Capitol Hill and in private practice.  Riley grew up in the district and has made his roots in upstate New York a central part of his campaign narrative. He previously ran for this seat in 2022, losing narrowly to Molinaro, and is returning to the race with a platform focused on economic fairness, healthcare access, and enhancing public education. He has criticized Molinaro for what he sees as alignment with corporate interests and national Republican policies, like in a recent ad that accuses Molinaro of voting to “strip away abortion rights.” Molinaro issued an ad of his own outlining his position on the issue saying in part that he believes, “Health decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor – not Washington.” As of the latest filing Riley has $4 Million cash on hand.

This race is poised to be among the most competitive in the state. With its history as a swing district and a diverse electorate, the outcome will depend on voter turnout, the candidates’ ability to address local concerns, and how national political trends influence voter sentiment.

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