NY19 special election set for August 23

County execs face off for Congressional seat

A special election to fill the 19th Congressional District seat left vacant by Rhinebeck’s Antonio Delgado after he was tapped by Governor Kathy Hochul in May to be the Lieutenant Governor, continues through this weekend.

In-person early voting in the NY-19 special election took place from Saturday, August 13, 2022 through Sunday, August 21, 2022 at multiple locations across the district. The final day to vote in this special election is Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

The Democratic nominee:

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan is a graduate of Kingston High School and West Point, who went on to serve two combat tours in Iraq as an Army intelligence officer. Ryan previously ran in the 2018 Democratic primary for the 19th District, finishing second behind Delgado with 18-percent of the vote.

The Republican nominee:

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, the former GOP candidate who faced off against then-Governor Cuomo in 2018, was the youngest mayor in the country when he was elected as mayor of the Village of Tivoli in 1995 at 19-years-old.

What’s driving the issues?:

Molinaro has come under pressure in recent days after a report by Hudson Valley 360 found that the county executive is leasing a luxury 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Premier SUV for $1,347.10 a month, a sum paid for by county taxpayers. “I respect the taxpayers for providing me the vehicle necessary to do this job,” Molinaro said in response. Robin Lois, the Dutchess County Comptroller, said her office is now auditing all assets, policies and procedures after numerous inquiries about officials’ practices and payments with county-issued vehicles. Molinaro said he does not use that SUV for campaign purposes, he instead rents a Jeep Grand Cherokee from one of his supporters for $35 a day. The vehicle, though, has not been included in quarterly filings with FEC so far, according the report.

During a virtual debate moderated by the Daily Freeman last week, Molinaro, who said he is personally pro-life, said the decision to have an abortion should be made by women but called for “thoughtful limitations” on when an abortion can take place. Molinaro said late-term abortions need to be “scaled to the necessity only.” Ryan has campaigned on a woman’s right to choose, saying, “I fought to defend the freedoms of this country and access to abortion is a fundamental freedom.” Ryan said during the debate the Supreme Court’s ruling was “a devastating decision,” that undercuts a woman’s freedom and puts lives at risk.

The winner of this special election will serve the rest of Delgado’s term, set to end on January 3, 2023. Though the boundaries of the 19th Congressional District were changed earlier this year, the special election to finish Delgado’s term will be held under old district lines; the November 8 election will be held using the newly redrawn districts. Both candidates will be running in the redrawn congressional district race in November with Molinaro staying in the 19th district, and Ryan running in the newly redrawn 18th district. (Here’s a slider map on the new redistricting lines)

Who’s eligible to vote?

All registered voters in the NY-19 District are eligible to vote early in-person, from August 13 through August 21, and on the day of the special election, Tuesday, August 23.

The 19th Congressional District covers Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties, as well as parts of Broome, Dutchess, Montgomery, and Rensselaer counties.

Check with your local county board of elections for voting information.

NYS Board of Elections