Seven up: All Democratic congressional candidates make primary ballot

With the June 26 Democratic primary for Congress two months away, apparent front-runners among the contenders in terms of fundraising and nominating petitions are emerging. All seven candidates describe themselves as progressive Democrats. 

Based on a combination of official campaign fundraising reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission and nominating petitions on file with the state board of elections in Albany, Antonio Delgado of Rhinebeck is leading the Democratic pack in the race in the 19th congressional district, closely followed by Brian Flynn of Elka Park, Greene County. Delgado leads in fundraising with $1.9 million and in nominating signatures submitted with 6000. Delgado has not loaned money to his campaign, according to official records. Flynn has raised $1.4 million, after loaning his campaign $630,000. He has collected 5000 signatures.

Behind Delgado in fundraising but ahead of him in petition signatures is Republican incumbent John Faso of Kinderhook, who has raised more than $1.7 million and collected over 9600 signatures. Faso has no Republican challenger for a second term, whereas the Democrats have had to compete for signatures among party enrollees in the eleven-county district.

Patrick Ryan of Gardiner has raised $1.3 million (and loaned his campaign less than $600), while collecting 3840 signatures. 

Reports on signatures are from the candidates. The election board gets involved if petitions are challenged. The minimum signatures required to be on a party ballot is 1250. 

Erin Collier of Cooperstown, who entered the race on March 12, said she submitted 2750 signatures and raised about $100,000. The deadline for submitting signatures was April 12; April 15 was the deadline for financial statements. Certification of places on the primary ballot for Democrats, and the November ballot for Republican Faso (who has no primary challenger) will be by May 3.

Trailing the top tier of Democrats were Gareth Rhodes of Kerhonkson with $685,000 and David Clegg of Woodstock with $648,000. Each candidate had about 3800 signatures on their nominating petitions. Clegg has loaned his campaign $418,000, according to filings. 

Jeff Beals of Woodstock has raised $250,000 and submitted 3200 signatures. He has loaned his campaign $56,000.

Financial statements have not been received from Stephen Greenfield of New Paltz, a candidate for the Green Party nomination, and declared candidates without party designations Diane Neal of Hurley and Luisa Parker of Callicoon. Their nominating petitions are due by early July.

Democratic candidates are scheduled to appear at a Radio Kingston forum at Kingston High School’s Wendell Scherer Auditorium on April 26 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Candidate fundraising and signatures

Delgado: $1.9 million/6000

Faso: $1.7 million/9600

Flynn: $1.4 million/5000

Ryan: $1.3 million/3840

Rhodes: $685,000/3750

Clegg: $648,000/3800

Beals: $250,000/3200

Collier: $100,000/2750