U.S. House · New York's 19th Congressional District

Central New York/Catskills/Mid-Hudson region, covering all or part of Sullivan, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Cortland, Chemung, Tompkins, and Columbia counties.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 15 claims re-checked against their sources · 2 corrected · 0 removed

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Oberacker background item invented specific year ranges for his town council (2012-2014), town supervisor (2014-2016), and county legislature (2016-2021) service; none of these dates appear on the cited Ballotpedia page. Removed the fabricated years, keeping the (confirmed) order of offices.
  • Riley's criticism of Oberacker said he 'voted to raise taxes on working people multiple times'; the actual quoted Riley statement says '14 times,' so corrected to match the source exactly.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEJosh Riley
DWFP
Peter Oberacker
RC
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsOpposes[4][5][6]votes—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[4][5][6]votesOpposes[3]
Expand public health coverageSupports[4][5][6][7]votes—
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[4][5][6]votes—
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[8]votes—

The candidates, in full

Josh Riley

DWFPINCUMBENTU.S. Representative for NY-19 (since 2025)

Josh Riley is the incumbent U.S. Representative for New York's 19th Congressional District, an attorney and former congressional and Senate staffer elected in 2024 after losing the same seat in 2022. He sits on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.[2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • Didn't voteLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServes on the House Agriculture Committee (Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry subcommittee) and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee (Energy subcommittee) in the 119th Congress (2025-2026).[2]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[4][5][6][7]

  • OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[4][5][6]

  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[4][5][6]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[4][5][6]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[8]

In their words — priorities

  • Campaign material says he worked on bipartisan legislation to protect survivors of domestic violence and combat the opioid epidemic, and on legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act and reduce the influence of money in politics.[2]
  • Has criticized Oberacker's state legislative record on utility rates, health insurance, and taxes, saying Oberacker has "helped the utility monopolies raise rates while cashing their corporate PAC checks" and raised taxes on working people 14 times.[1]

Background

  • Earned a bachelor's degree in government and economics from the College of William and Mary (2003) and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (2007).[2]
  • Worked as a staff assistant to former Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), a policy analyst at the U.S. Department of Labor, a clerk on the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and general counsel to then-Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and practiced law at Boies, Schiller & Flexner and Jenner & Block.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $4.8M · spent $1.7M · $3.2M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Peter Oberacker

RCNew York State Senator, District 51 (since 2021)

Won the June 23 Republican primary

Peter Oberacker is a Republican New York State Senator representing District 51, first elected in 2020, and a former Otsego County legislator. He won the June 23, 2026 Republican primary for NY-19 and is challenging incumbent Josh Riley.[3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Floor votes in Albany

  • NoAssesses a separate tax on distributions from designated settlement funds · S10585 · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Assesses a 100% tax on distributions from the federal anti-weaponization fund; provides that such tax shall not be reduced pursuant to any deduction, exemption or credit.
  • YesProvides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits · S10113 · Passed Senate 47–13 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Provides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits.
  • NoRelates to winter road maintenance data collection and monitoring · S10094 · Passed Senate 44–16 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes a standardized statewide system for collecting, recording, and monitoring winter road maintenance operational data in order to improve efficiency, enhance transparency, and support the protection of water resources in the state of New York; requires calibration of all deicing material application equipment used for winter highway maintenance on public roads.
  • NoEstablishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act · S9500-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act; establishes the virtual power plant program to help reduce energy costs and grid reliability risks; provides incentives to participants for supporting the grid by investing in distributed energy resources and reducing net energy costs.
  • NoRelates to placing restrictions on the sale of flare guns · S8455-B · Passed Senate 35–25 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes the crimes of criminal sale of a flare gun in the first and second degrees; sets restrictions on and requirements for the sale of flare guns.
  • NoRequires certain construction project contracts to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or electric major utility transmission facilities · S7898-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Requires certain construction project contracts with a value of greater than or equal to five million dollars to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or major electric transmission facilities.

Votes on landmark laws since 2019, plus 2026 roll calls where at least five members voted on the losing side — read from the legislature’s official records.

On the record — official actions

  • actionIn the 119th New York State Senate session (2025-2026), serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committee and the Senate Transportation Committee, and sits on the Agriculture, Finance, Higher Education, and Labor Committees.[3]
  • voteWas re-elected to New York State Senate District 51 on November 5, 2024, defeating Michele Frazier.[3]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporations

    Says he has never sponsored a state budget that raised taxes and campaigns on keeping taxes low.[3]

In their words — priorities

  • Campaign material emphasizes his state legislative record of "keeping taxes low" and never having created a budget that raised taxes, along with an emphasis on being visible and present in the district.[3]

Background

  • Graduated from Schenevus High School and earned a degree from SUNY Delhi; worked as a food scientist and founded FormTech Solutions before entering politics.[3]
  • Served on the town board and later as town supervisor of Maryland, New York, then on the Otsego County Legislature, before election to the State Senate in 2020.[3]

Campaign money

Raised $1.2M · spent $844K · $393K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Research notes & limits

Neither Riley nor Oberacker had completed a 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey; priorities and positions draw on campaign-website material republished by Ballotpedia. Oberacker's list of sponsored state-senate bills could not be retrieved (Ballotpedia's bill table and nysenate.gov both required JavaScript/blocked automated access), so his record here is limited to committee assignments and election history.

Sources · 8

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.New York's 19th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-22 Reference
  2. 2.Josh Riley · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Peter Oberacker · Ballotpedia Reference
  4. 4.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  5. 5.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  6. 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  7. 7.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  8. 8.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record