MONTICELLO – It seems Sen. Peter Oberacker has made his decision. As we previously reported at the end of August, the state senator for New York State’s 51st District was eyeing a Congressional run, and yesterday he announced his candidacy for Congress in New York’s 19th Congressional District. 

The district, which includes all of Broome, Chenango, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, Tioga and Tompkins counties and parts of Otsego and Ulster counties, is currently served by Rep. Josh Riley, a Democrat who ousted Marc Molinaro in 2024. 

Oberacker is currently serving his third term in New York State Senate District 51, which was re-districted in 2023 and includes all of Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie and Sullivan counties, and parts of Broome, Chenango and Ulster counties. 

He was set to announce his decision to run after presstime last night at Holiday Mountain in Monticello, and also released a campaign video highlighting his family roots.

“This campaign is about where we come from and where we’re going,” said Oberacker in a statement. “I grew up working beside my father in our family’s market, learning the value of hard work, faith, and responsibility. Those lessons have guided me as a business owner, a firefighter, and a public servant. They’ll guide me in Congress as well.”

Riley was set to hold a Rural Healthcare Town Hall at SUNY Sullivan’s Field House to “discuss the challenges and opportunities facing rural healthcare systems” in Sullivan County and across New York’s 19th Congressional District after presstime last night.

We will have more coverage on those events and the local races in upcoming issues of the Sullivan County Democrat.