GOP voters pick Trump-backed nominee in battle to flip crucial House seat
Peter Oberacker Wins GOP Primary, Sets Stage to Challenge Rep. Josh Riley in New York’s 19th District
Peter Oberacker, a Trump‑backed Republican state senator, secured the Republican nomination for New York’s 19th Congressional District on Tuesday evening, positioning himself to take on first‑term Democratic incumbent Rep. Josh Riley in the November 3 general election.
The 19th District, which stretches north of Manhattan and has historically leaned Democratic, was last captured by a Republican in 2022. Republicans are eager to flip the seat as part of a broader strategy to maintain control of the U.S. House, where they hold a narrow majority.
Oberacker, who has served in the New York State Senate since 2021, ran on a platform that blends his business experience with public‑service credentials. “They say there are two things you should never see being made: laws and sausage. Well, I know both. Service has always called me. As a volunteer firefighter and EMT and as a town supervisor and county legislator,” he told voters in a campaign video. The senator’s résumé also includes leadership on rural agriculture, farm policies, and energy‑rate issues. In the Senate he has introduced legislation to curb retroactive corporate bills and to prevent taxpayer money from covering corporate losses, and has championed a “utility ratepayer bill of rights” aimed at greater transparency and accountability in the energy sector.
Trump’s endorsement came earlier in the year, with the former president promising Oberacker “to fight tirelessly to grow the economy, cut taxes and regulations, unleash American energy dominance, keep our border secure, stop migrant crime, ensure law and order, strengthen our brave military and veterans, advance election integrity and protect the Second Amendment.” The endorsement underscored the national GOP’s focus on the district.
Financially, Oberacker’s campaign has raised just under a million dollars, according to Federal Election Commission records. The money has been used to build a statewide campaign infrastructure, conduct voter outreach, and fund television and digital advertising.
Riley, who won his seat in 2024 by a margin of 51.1% to 48.8% over Republican Marcus Molinaro, is now facing a potentially hard‑fought rematch. “Results matter. That’s why I have introduced several bills as part of my utility ratepayer bill of rights,” Oberacker posted on Facebook, emphasizing his commitment to consumer protection on a key issue that has energized voters in the district.
The primary victory means Oberacker will now turn his attention to the general election, where the race is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests in New York. With the district’s electorate split, both candidates will likely focus on economic concerns, energy policy, and local issues that resonate with the rural and suburban communities that make up the 19th.
As the campaign season heats up, voters in the 19th District will weigh Oberacker’s business‑oriented platform and Trump‑aligned messaging against Riley’s experience and record in Congress. The November ballot will decide whether the district will shift back to Republican hands or remain under Democratic representation.
