--- title: "Morelle vs. McIntyre: 2026 New York’s 25th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ny-25" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 New York’s 25th District race: Joseph Morelle (D) vs. Virginia McIntyre (R) Rating: Safe D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 The 2026 general election for New York's 25th Congressional District features seven-term Democratic incumbent Joseph Morelle against Republican challenger Virginia McIntyre, a Monroe County Legislator. The campaign centers on economic relief for working families, healthcare cost transparency, public safety and gun policy, vocational education, and fiscal oversight. ## Candidates - **Joseph Morelle** (Democrat, incumbent) · [Campaign site](https://www.votemorelle.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Morelle) - **Virginia McIntyre** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://virginiamcintyreforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_McIntyre) ## Issues ### Economy and Tax Policy Salience: high Morelle favors federal investments in childcare, housing, and targeted tax credits while voting against major Republican spending-cut packages, whereas McIntyre focuses on fiscal austerity, cutting government waste, and broad tax relief for families and seniors. **Joseph Morelle:** Supports working-family investments and targeted tax relief Morelle emphasizes building an economy that works for working families through investments in workforce training, childcare, and affordable housing. In Congress, he voted against major Republican fiscal proposals such as the Limit, Save, Grow Act and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while supporting bipartisan debt limit and tax credit measures. - Voted against H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation bill) and H.R. 2811 (Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023). - Voted in favor of H.R. 3746 (Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023) and H.R. 7024 (Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024). - Advocates expanding access to childcare, increasing affordable housing, and supporting local business growth. > “As a former small business owner, Joe understands what it takes to build an economy that works for working people.” > — Joseph Morelle, via [Campaign site](https://www.votemorelle.com/) **Virginia McIntyre:** Supports tax relief and spending accountability McIntyre calls for fiscal responsibility, cutting government waste, and delivering tax relief for working families and seniors. Her economic platform centers on supporting small businesses, funding workforce apprenticeships, and reducing the tax burden. - Promises to fight for tax relief for working families and seniors. - Proposes cutting government waste and enforcing responsible budgeting. - Supports workforce training, apprenticeships, and local small employers. > “Government must be accountable to the people it serves. I am running to restore trust by focusing on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and putting taxpayers first.” > — Virginia McIntyre, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_McIntyre) ### Healthcare Salience: high Morelle works to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and lower prescription drug prices through federal policy, while McIntyre centers her healthcare approach on hospital pricing transparency and insurer accountability. **Joseph Morelle:** Defends ACA and prescription cost reductions Morelle prioritizes expanding healthcare access, protecting the Affordable Care Act, and reducing out-of-pocket costs for constituents. He supports legislation to eliminate surprise medical bills and maintain protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions. - Helped lead efforts to end surprise medical billing and lower prescription drug costs. - Opposes Republican legislation seeking to dismantle or alter the Affordable Care Act. - Supports maintaining federal protections for patients with pre-existing conditions. > “Expanding access to healthcare and lowering costs remains one of Joe’s top priorities.” > — Joseph Morelle, via [Campaign site](https://www.votemorelle.com/) **Virginia McIntyre:** Promotes price transparency and fair billing McIntyre advocates for consumer transparency reforms in healthcare. Her platform focuses on requiring strict price transparency, ending surprise billing, and holding insurance companies and hospitals accountable. - Demands pricing transparency from healthcare providers and insurers. - Pledges to hold hospitals and insurance companies accountable for hidden fees. - Aims to protect families from unfair and surprise billing practices. > “Healthcare should be understandable and affordable—without surprise bills or confusing fine print.” > — Virginia McIntyre, via [Campaign site](https://virginiamcintyreforcongress.com) ### Public Safety and Crime Salience: high Morelle focuses on enacting federal gun control laws to curb violence, whereas McIntyre emphasizes supporting law enforcement, community policing, and targeting illegal drugs and human trafficking. **Joseph Morelle:** Supports gun reform and community safety Morelle advocates for gun safety legislation and public safety measures designed to prevent gun violence. His record includes endorsements from gun violence prevention organizations like the Brady Campaign. - Supports common-sense gun reform measures to reduce neighborhood violence. - Endorsed by The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. - Focuses on community safety initiatives across Western New York. > “he is working tirelessly to keep our neighborhoods safe and enact common-sense gun reform measures” > — Joseph Morelle, via [Campaign site](https://www.votemorelle.com/) **Virginia McIntyre:** Supports community policing and law enforcement McIntyre emphasizes public safety through law enforcement support, community policing, and targeted anti-crime programs. Her safety plan includes cracking down on human trafficking, combatting illegal fentanyl, and curbing repeat violence. - Supports community policing and partnership initiatives to build community trust. - Proposes targeted action against human trafficking and fentanyl distribution. - Advocates investing in prevention programs aimed at reducing repeat violence. > “Support community policing, prevention programs, and strong partnerships that reduce violence and build trust.” > — Virginia McIntyre, via [Campaign site](https://virginiamcintyreforcongress.com) ### Education and Vocational Training Salience: medium Morelle emphasizes expanding federal childcare support and workforce development programs, while McIntyre highlights vocational education expansion and school accountability metrics. **Joseph Morelle:** Supports workforce training and early education Morelle supports expanding educational opportunities through workforce development, career training programs, and expanded access to early childhood education and childcare. - Pushes for expanded access to affordable childcare to support working parents. - Advocates strengthening local workforce development and career training programs. > “That is why he is fighting to expand access to childcare for working families, increase the availability of affordable housing, strengthen workforce training programs, and support the needs of our community's businesses.” > — Joseph Morelle, via [Campaign site](https://www.votemorelle.com/) **Virginia McIntyre:** Promotes vocational education and school accountability McIntyre champions expanding vocational and technical education options alongside school accountability. She advocates ensuring all students have pathways to career opportunities regardless of location. - Proposes expanding vocational, technical, and skilled-trades training programs. - Supports school accountability standards to boost student outcomes. - Pledges to ensure families across all ZIP codes have access to quality educational opportunities. > “Every child deserves a high-quality education—and every student should have a path to a great job.” > — Virginia McIntyre, via [Campaign site](https://virginiamcintyreforcongress.com) ### Infrastructure Salience: medium Morelle points to his vote for the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, while McIntyre emphasizes responsible local execution and strict fiscal oversight on infrastructure projects. **Joseph Morelle:** Supports federal infrastructure funding Morelle supported major federal infrastructure legislation to deliver federal funding for road repairs, bridge work, clean water systems, and high-speed internet across Upstate New York. - Voted Yea on the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684). - Supported funding for local bridge replacement, clean drinking water, and broadband expansion. **Virginia McIntyre:** Advocates targeted infrastructure upgrades with oversight McIntyre prioritizes local infrastructure improvements, including roads, bridges, water systems, transit, and rural broadband access, stressing fiscal oversight for projects. - Pledges to fix local roads, bridges, and water systems. - Supports expanding high-speed broadband to underserved areas. - Demands strict fiscal oversight on all infrastructure spending. > “Infrastructure is quality of life: roads, bridges, broadband, water systems, and transit.” > — Virginia McIntyre, via [Campaign site](https://virginiamcintyreforcongress.com) ### Immigration and Border Enforcement Salience: medium **Joseph Morelle:** Supports selective immigration enforcement measures Morelle has compiled a nuanced voting record on immigration, supporting bills targeting undocumented immigrants convicted of specific crimes while opposing broader Republican border legislation. - Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring DHS detention for noncitizens arrested for theft or burglary. - Voted Yea on H.R. 875 to make driving while intoxicated grounds for deportation. - Voted Nay on H.R. 2 (Secure the Border Act of 2023), H.R. 22 (SAVE Act), and the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. **Virginia McIntyre:** No documented position in our sources ### Reproductive Rights Salience: medium **Joseph Morelle:** Supports abortion rights and choice Morelle strongly advocates for protecting abortion access and reproductive freedom at the federal level. - Pledges to protect a woman's right to make her own reproductive healthcare decisions. - Opposes federal restrictions or bans on abortion services. > “he remains committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose” > — Joseph Morelle, via [Campaign site](https://www.votemorelle.com/) **Virginia McIntyre:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/ny-25-house-election-winner) — NY-25 House Election Winner: Democrats 98.1%, Republicans 1.8% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-NY25-26) — NY-25 House winner?: Joseph Morelle 98.0%, Virginia McIntyre 3.1% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ny-25)