Democrat Pat Ryan defeats Republican Marc Molinaro in bellwether House race

Democrat Pat Ryan has won a special election for New York’s 19th Congressional District in a race that garnered national attention ahead of November’s midterm contests.

The election was seen as a bellwether of the national mood because Ryan had focused on abortion rights, while his opponent, Republican Marc Molinaro, had tried to run on issues embraced by the GOP nationwide, such as crime and inflation. Ryan’s victory will likely buoy Democrats' hopes that they can retain control of Congress in November despite historical trends, high inflation and President Biden’s low approval rating.

Ryan, the executive of Ulster County, surged late in the race for the district, which stretches up the Hudson Valley north of New York City. Molinaro, the executive of Dutchess County, had been the GOP’s nominee for governor in 2018.

Ryan’s campaign revolved almost entirely around abortion rights. Within an hour of the Supreme Court's announcement of its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Ryan had released his first ad, highlighting his time in the military before turning to abortion.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/new-york-19th-special-election-house-molinaro-ryan-bellwether-abortion-042250042.html