(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



New York 19 race is critical [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2024-09-09  

I have lived in what's now New York’s 19th congressional district for 20 years and in that time the Congressional seat has switched back and forth between the two parties, 6 or maybe 7 times — from John Sweeney (R) to Kirsten Gillibrand (D) to Chris Gibson (R) to John Faso (R) to Antonio Delgado (D) to the current Republican, Marc Molinaro. (I’m missing someone here)

The district has changed shape due to overall decline in state population but it is a classic swing district in each of its configurations, currently stretching from Massachusetts across the upper Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains to the Pennsylvania line. It is overwhelmingly rural, largely agricultural, but also very progressive in many ways. Our Republicans are the old decent kind, at least the ones I know. I liked Gibson, who quit in disgust with his fellow Republicans, and I think Molinaro is a decent, moderate man — at heart. But he is also one of the handful of representatives who make up the tiny Republican edge that controls the House. And although he has a good reputation as a mayor etc, he does vote with the loons led by Mike Johnson. So of course, I am supporting the Democratic challenger Josh Riley.

And now we come to why I’m writing this diary. I am afraid Riley is going to lose. He is not an experienced campaigner. He hasn’t had the two year lead that Molinaro has had in the district. People don’t know Riley and they’re not getting to know him. That is my impression and the feeling of many people in my informal surveys.

I also don’t think that we are as conservative as Riley seems to think we are. A few years ago, the Green Party candidate for governor carried my county. I think Riley has been wrong, for example, to make an issue of border security. We don’t worry about the Canadian border and I doubt if anybody around here except aged Fox News watchers really thinks immigrants are a problem. Who else is going to pick the applies? Not mention picking those strawberries in June. Yes, Riley has made reproductive freedom an issue but not all that loudly. Antonio Delgado won here by being a lot more outspoken and he is now the lieutenant governor.

I think Josh Riley needs to hammer away at Trump, which I don’t see him doing. Keep pointing out that a vote for Molinaro is a vote to give unchecked power to Trump. And start talking more about how great Kamala Harris is. Make it clear to voters that the future of our democracy can rest with a district like this one.

I’d also like to see more indications that he wants our opinions. It’s not easy to even find his office phone number or email if you want to give him your two cents. Molinaro is much easier to reach and responds quickly to emails on any issues.

Here’s a link to Riley’s website. If you live around here, I hope you’ll pitch in: donations, lawn signs, phone banking, just talking him up with neighbors.

Josh Riley Campaign

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/9/9/2269049/-New-York-19-race-is-critical?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/