With 99 percent of election districts reporting, Antonio Delgado of Rhinebeck has a substantial lead over Gareth Rhodes of Kerhonkson in the seven-way race for the Democratic nomination in the 19th Congressional District.
Unofficial returns show Delgado with 7,690 votes (22 percent) to 6,242 for Rhodes (18 percent) in the 11-county district. The Associated Press has called the race and Rhodes has conceded.
“Tonight, we have taken the first step toward restoring dignity and integrity to our representation in New York 19,” said Delgado in a statement. “The people have spoken loudly and clearly: more than ideology, more than identity, more than class or background, we can all stand tall behind the unifying principles that our country was founded upon. Freedom, justice, equality and opportunity for all.” Delgado added that he looks forward to “taking on John Faso and restoring accountability to our representation.”
The winner will face first-term Republican incumbent John Faso of Kinderhook in the Nov. 6 general election. Faso wasted no time in responding to the results, previewing what will be, as with the last two races in this district, a frequent attack regarding his likely opponent’s residency. (Delgado moved to Rhinebeck from New Jersey in early 2017.)
(1/2) The choice is clear this Nov. I congratulate Mr. Delgado on his victory. He will soon learn, as the last 2 Democratic candidates for Congress before him, that our neighbors do not look kindly upon candidates who have just moved into our district and presume to represent us
— John Faso (@JohnFasoNy) June 27, 2018
(2/2) I’m proud of my record- fighting for #NY19 farmers, protecting sr.’s on Social Sec./Medicare & ensuring our vets. receive the benefits they’ve earned. My opponent is essentially for open borders & favors govt. run healthcare (which would raise taxes and jeopardize Medicare)
— John Faso (@JohnFasoNy) June 27, 2018
Delgado finished in first or second in all 11 counties (and parts of counties) that comprise NY-19, with the exception of Delaware County, where he finished third.
In Ulster County, with all 79 districts reporting Delgado held a 150-vote lead over David Clegg of Woodstock. Pat Ryan of Gardiner was a close third with 2,386 Ulster votes. Rhodes tallied 1,864 votes in Ulster, 253 votes behind Jeff Beals of Woodstock.
Brian Flynn of Greene County finished fifth with 4,608 votes — tied with Beals — and was the first to concede, about an hour after polls closed. Erin Collier of Cooperstown, who entered the race in March and was the only woman in the contest, had 1,700 votes.
Delgado carried the Dutchess County portion of the district by 400 votes.
Collier of Cooperstown, the only woman in the race, ran last in almost every county, except Otsego where she beat Clegg and Rhodes. Flynn carried Otsego with almost 37 percent among its 10,603 registered Democrats.
Turnout was above average, with about 25 percent of the district’s 141,000 “active” Democrats casting ballots. Normal turnout for primaries is in the 15 percent range.
Board of election officials estimate some 4,000 absentee ballots remain to be counted. Those ballots received by boards of election by the close of business hours on Tuesday will be opened and counted on July 3.
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