Who's In the Race

Rep. Josh Riley (D-NY) faces Republican Peter Oberacker in the November 3 general election in New York's 19th Congressional District. Riley won the seat in 2024 by defeating Marc Molinaro in a rematch, two years after Molinaro beat Riley in the same district in 2022. ​

Riley has represented the district since 2025, having previously worked as a U.S. Department of Labor policy analyst, as counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and as an attorney representing children from low-income families in a civil-rights case involving access to affordable health care.

Oberacker has served in the New York State Senate's 51st District since January 2021, after earlier stints on the Maryland Town Board, as town supervisor, and as an Otsego County representative; he also worked as a food scientist and research chef and founded FormTech Solutions, a food-innovation company.

Oberacker won the June 23 Republican primary with about 78 percent of the vote, defeating Alexander Portelli, who received about 22 percent.

What They Stand For

Riley has proposed expanding the Child Tax Credit and simplifying the tax code to make it "simpler, fairer, and less of a burden for working families," according to his campaign website. He's also supported:

  • Challenging utility rate increases and holding utility companies accountable to lower bills,
  • Restoring abortion protections through the Women's Health Protection Act and protecting access to birth control,
  • The PRO Act, making it easier to join a union and harder for employers to oppose organizing; and
  • Universal background checks and safe-storage laws for firearms, while respecting law-abiding gun owners' Second Amendment rights.

Oberacker told WAMC he wants to ease housing construction mandates to make it easier to build homes and increase supply. He also supports:

  • A "Ratepayers' Bill of Rights" approach to utility costs, emphasizing transparency and consumer control over bills,
  • Tax provisions including no tax on tips or Social Security, with savings sought first from fraud and abuse,
  • Dialing back the Iran war, with negotiation to try to reach an agreement; and
  • Working across the aisle on affordability, including groceries and fuel costs.

The Money Behind the Race

Through June 30, Riley had raised about $4.8 million and held about $3.2 million in cash, roughly eight times the about $393,000 on hand for Oberacker, who had raised about $1.2 million over the same period, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Oberacker carried about $100,000 in debt through that date, equal to about eight percent of his total receipts. Outside groups spent about $22,258 supporting Riley, with Rural Freedom Network the largest backer at about $16,716; the same group spent about $2,316 opposing Oberacker, the only completed outside expenditure against either candidate.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race Likely Democratic as of Oct. 19; Sabato's Crystal Ball gave it the same rating as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections also rated it Likely Democratic as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats, whose nominee is Riley, a 97.97% chance of winning as of Oct. 20.

The district went to Democrat Riley in 2024 and to Republican Marcus Molinaro in 2022. Democrats have dominated New York's congressional delegation in both recent cycles, winning 18 of the state's 26 U.S. House seats in 2022 and 19 in 2024. In the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris carried New York with about 55 percent of the vote.

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