Dems keep seat: Ryan wins special Congressional election; Riley, Oberacker take primaries

SULLIVAN COUNTY – A number of elections took place all throughout the County with some reaching their end on August 23 as polling places counted up final votes. Here are some of the results.

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan (D) won out over Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro (R) in the special election held for the 19th Congressional District seat.

The race was close, as NYS Board of Elections unofficial result totals had Ryan receiving 65,943 votes (51.07 percent) and Molinaro receiving 62,952 votes (48.75 percent).

Ryan will serve the remaining term of former 19th Congressional District Rep. Antonio Delgado, which expires at the end of this year. In May, Delgado resigned from the position to take on the role of lieutenant governor of New York.

“I got into this race because the very foundations of our democracy are under attack. Last night, the Hudson Valley stood up and held the frontline for democracy,” Ryan said.

“The guardrails of democracy are increasingly being hit, and that’s a wake-up call. When freedom is at risk and fundamental rights are being trampled on, Americans will stand up. We demonstrated that,” Ryan said.

Molinaro said that although it was not the outcome he had hoped for, he knew it was going to be an uphill battle due to “Democrats scheduling the special election on the same day as two Democratic Primaries.”

“As we look forward, every midterm election is a referendum on the party in power. Late campaign comments by folks like Governor Hochul, that if you don’t agree with their policies on the economy, crime, and pandemic restrictions then you should leave are wrong. Everyone in this district, in America, deserves a government that respects and serves them,” Molinaro said.

“In November, help is on the way as I’ll be running in a new district, with a new opponent - and we will continue to offer solutions for all families in Upstate New York,” Molinaro said.

In addition to the special election, there was a primary to see which Democrat would secure the nomination to run for NY-19 this November, as Ryan will be running for NY’s 18th congressional district as a result of redistricting.

Josh Riley overtook Jamie Cheney as the Democratic Party’s candidate. Riley finished with 30,462 votes (61.52 percent), and Cheney finished with 17,474 votes (35.29 percent).

Riley will now face off against Molinaro for the NY-19 seat in November. 

Oberacker secures Rep. nomination for NY State Senate

The Republican primary elections for the New York 51st State Senate District also reached their conclusion.

Current NYS Senator Peter Oberacker won in the race for the Republican nomination against Terry Bernardo. Oberacker received 10,398 votes (52.11 percent) while Bernardo received 9,371 votes (46.97 percent).

Oberacker said in a statement that he was thrilled with the victory and the support he received from all around the district, and that his sights are already set on the general election on November 8.

“New York State is losing people at a record pace due to out of touch Albany politicians who raise taxes, take away Constitutional rights, and put criminals first.  These are not the values that people who live and work in the 51st Senate District, or across the state, subscribe to and I will continue to push back against these destructive policies,” said Senator Oberacker.

He added that New York is at “a true turning point.”

“Our small businesses, our farms, and our Constitutional rights have been under fire for too long. Citizens want government to be accountable to their concerns – that is my belief as well,” he said. “The enthusiastic and overwhelming Primary Day support is proof positive that the voters and I are on the same page.”

“I look forward to growing the many partnerships I have already established while launching new ones across the 51st Senate District as we work together to revitalize the Empire State,” continued Senator Oberacker.

Oberacker will face Democratic challenger Eric Ball, a Village of Walton trustee, on the ballot in November.

Sullivan County’s Scope

Here is how Sullivan County voted on Tuesday:

Regarding the NY19 Congressional District special election, Molinaro received 5,196 votes (57.19 percent) and Ryan garnered 3,881 votes (42.72 percent).

Regarding the Democratic Primary for NY-19 Congressional District seat, Josh Riley received 1,983 votes (54.90 percent) and Cheney received 1,593 votes (44.10 percent).

In the Republican Primary Election for the 51st District State Senator seat, Terry Bernardo received 2,878 votes (74.91 percent) and Oberacker received 957 votes (24.91 percent).