Candidate drops out of online debate, claiming paper ‘jumbles facts’ and misspells her name

Auringer, Ryan planned to meet again for in-person forum

On Friday, the candidate facing incumbent Democrat Pat Ryan to represent the 18th district of New York State in Congress, Republican Jackie Mary Auringer, abruptly dropped out of an online debate hosted by Kingston-based newspaper, The Daily Freeman.

During her 3-minute opening statement, Auringer, a Kingston native who works for her family’s business, U.S. Crane & Rigging, LLC, assailed her opponent claiming that when she entered the race, she was “immediately bribed to drop out,” and received an email prior to the online debate from Rep. Ryan’s team “trying to get in her head.” In addition, Auringer said debate moderator and reporter Paul Kirby and The Daily Freeman has “jumbled facts” and “repeatedly misspelled” her name, and misidentified her father. She also said she would release “The Pat Ryan Files” detailing, among other misuse of funds, Ryan’s financial connections to the paper before abruptly exiting the online debate.

“I refuse to lend credibility to a process in which I have lost confidence,” she said in a statement on social media following the event.

After Auringer signed off from the debate, Freeman moderators and incumbent U.S. Rep. Ryan agreed to continue the session. “I’m excited to chat with you as you do your job to hold elected officials accountable and report to the public, and I do mine to serve the public,” Ryan said.

“It’s never happened,” Daily Freeman reporter Paul Kirby said after Auringer’s exit.

“I’m not going to go into political games,” Freeman’s Ivan Lajara added. “We do news. And that’s what we’re going to continue to do and strive to do.”

See the Freeman’s video, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rEMLGnScaw

In-person forum scheduled in Newburgh

Ryan and Auringer are scheduled to meet again this week, this time in person.

The Orange County Chamber of Commerce will host a candidates forum on Thursday, October 22, 2026 beginning at 5:30pm at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. Admission is free, but attendees must reserve their seats in advance via the Orange County Chamber website.


 

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