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U.S. House · New York's 20th Congressional District

Capital Region, covering Albany, Schenectady, and Amsterdam and surrounding areas.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Paul Tonko, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Paul Tonko181,89063.6%
Ralph Ambrosio103,94636.3%
Total Write-ins2490.1%

About 96% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • Both parties' primaries were canceled: incumbent Paul Tonko advanced unopposed on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, and Ralph Ambrosio advanced unopposed on the Republican and Conservative Party lines. As of September 22, 2026, Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rated the general election "Solid Democratic" and Decision Desk and Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it "Safe Democratic."[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 2 candidates

Paul TonkoDWFPINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Representative for NY-20 (since 2009)Full profile →Ralph AmbrosioRCFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[43][44][45]

    Voted yes on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted yes on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted no on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03), which would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks.

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[38][39][40][41]

    Voted yes on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27), which would have required background checks on most private gun sales. Voted yes on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29), which would have banned the sale of many semiautomatic assault weapons. Voted yes on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24), which expanded background checks for buyers under 21 and funded state red-flag programs. Voted no on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06), which would have required states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

    Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). 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. Voted no on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted yes on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    Supports[8]

    In a Feb. 4, 2026 campaign press release, said local law enforcement should coordinate with federal authorities to deport people in the country illegally who have committed crimes, and said abolishing ICE would make communities less safe.

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[22][23][24][34][33]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted yes on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    —

Expand public health coverage

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[22][23][24][29][30][31]

    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), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies. Voted yes on Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590, 2010-03-21). Voted no on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    In their own words[9]
    “America’s healthcare crisis is not the result of free-market failure; it is the direct consequence of federal distortions that have systematically destroyed price transparency and consumer choice.”

    In his campaign healthcare policy brief

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[22][23][24][32][33]

    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. Voted yes on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    Opposes[7]

    In a 2026 Protect the Adirondacks questionnaire, he opposed the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act, said restrictions on fossil fuels and nuclear while subsidizing other energy sources have raised energy costs, and said fracking bans harm New York.

Raise the minimum wage

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[42]

    Voted yes on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    —

Continue U.S. military aid to Israel

  • Paul Tonko
    —
  • Ralph Ambrosio
    In their own words[8]
    “Paul Tonko’s vote against Israeli aid is more than just a policy disagreement; it is a failure of moral clarity”

    In a July 16, 2026 campaign press release criticizing Rep. Tonko's vote against the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[37]

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    —

Universal, publicly funded child care

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[32]

    Voted yes on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[28]

    Voted no on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Paul Tonko
    Recorded votes[35][36]

    Voted yes on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted yes on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.

  • Ralph Ambrosio
    —

Research notes & limits

Ambrosio's campaign website (ambrosioforcongress.com) was reachable on this pass and supplied biography and priorities above; he still has not completed a Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey and his Ballotpedia page has no independent biography section. A fact-check removed a `guns` position drawn from a generic "defending the right to self-defense" line in his public-safety priorities list, since his issues page never mentions guns, firearms, or the Second Amendment and does not squarely address gun-law policy, so no gun position is recorded. Pass 2 (Oct. 2026): his campaign press room supplied immigration-enforcement and Israel-aid positions and a healthcare statement. Tonko has not stated specific 2026 campaign priorities on his Ballotpedia page; his entry here relies on biography and committee assignments. Ambrosio's Israel-aid remarks criticize his opponent's vote and do not themselves state support for continuing aid, so they are recorded as a statement.

Sources · 49

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

  1. 1.New York's 20th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-22 Reference
  2. 2.Paul Tonko · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Issues · Ralph Ambrosio for Congress campaign website · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Healthcare · Office of Rep. Paul Tonko, U.S. House of Representatives · 2026-10-03 Official record
  5. 5.Gun Violence · Office of Rep. Paul Tonko, U.S. House of Representatives · 2026-10-03 Official record
  6. 6.Climate Change · Office of Rep. Paul Tonko, U.S. House of Representatives · 2026-10-03 Official record
  7. 7.Federal and State Candidates Answer Questions on Environmental Matters in Adirondack Park · Protect the Adirondacks! (candidate questionnaire, 2026) · 2026-10-03 Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Press Room · Ralph Ambrosio for Congress · 2026-08-03 Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Healthcare Plan · Ralph Ambrosio for Congress Candidate's own words
  10. 10.Paul Tonko · Ballotpedia Reference
  11. 11.Biography · Office of Rep. Paul Tonko Official record
  12. 12.Speaking Event Biography · Office of Rep. Paul Tonko Official record
  13. 13.Paul Tonko · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  14. 14.New York's 20th Congressional District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  15. 15.H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (Raise the Wage Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  16. 16.H.R. 12, the Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 (Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  17. 17.H.R. 4099, the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act (Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  18. 18.H.Con.Res. 38 (Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  19. 19.H.Con.Res. 64 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  20. 20.H.Con.Res. 68 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  23. 23.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  24. 24.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  29. 29.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  30. 30.Roll call: Affordable Care Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2010-03-21 Official record
  31. 31.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  32. 32.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  33. 33.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  34. 34.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  35. 35.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  36. 36.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  37. 37.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  38. 38.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  39. 39.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  40. 40.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  41. 41.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  42. 42.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  43. 43.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  44. 44.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  45. 45.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record
  46. 46.Ralph Ambrosio · Ballotpedia Reference
  47. 47.Meet Ralph · Ralph Ambrosio for Congress campaign website · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  48. 48.Republican announces plans to challenge Tonko in NY-20 · Spectrum News · 2026-01-20 News report
  49. 49.U.S. House New York's 20th Congressional District results 2026 · NBC News News report