2026 Midterms · U.S. House · New York Lean
New York — 19th District
Democratic / Working Families Party
Josh Riley
Incumbent
Republican / Conservative Party
Peter Oberacker
In New York's 19th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Josh Riley faces Republican challenger Peter Oberacker in a key battleground matchup for the 2026 general election. Riley won the seat in 2024 by defeating incumbent Marcus Molinaro in a district that voted for Kamala Harris by 50.4% to 48.7%. As of July 2026, forecasters rate the race as Lean Democratic or Likely Democratic, with the result directly impacting the slim partisan majority in the U.S. House. Key campaign themes center on cost of living, middle-class tax policy, border security, reproductive rights, and regional candidate representation.
Economy and Taxes
high salienceRiley proposes reforming the tax code to raise taxes on wealthy earners and corporations to fund middle-class relief, while Oberacker focuses on his record of never creating a budget that raised taxes.
Border Security and Immigration
high salienceAbortion and Reproductive Rights
high salienceAgriculture and Rural Communities
medium salienceRiley emphasizes federal anti-monopoly legislation and agricultural trade protections, while Oberacker focuses on his personal rural background and criticizes Riley's district presence.
Public Safety and Criminal Justice
medium salienceRiley advocates for increased federal law enforcement grant funding and state bail law revisions, whereas Oberacker centers his position on his decades as a volunteer EMT and firefighter.