UPPER DELAWARE, NY & PA — Voters in Pike, Sullivan and Wayne counties made their opinions known on Election Day, 2024, unseating Congressional incumbents on both sides of the Upper Delaware River. 

Josh Riley (D) defeated incumbent Marc Molinaro (R) in a rematch of their contest two years ago for the 19th Congressional District of New York. Across the river, newcomer Rob Bresnahan (R) defeated Matt Cartwright (D), taking the 8th Congressional District of Pennsylvania seat Cartwright had held since 2013. 

And at the top of the ballot, all three counties preferred Donald Trump over Kamala Harris—58.11 percent of voters in Sullivan, 62 percent of voters in Pike and 68 precent of voters in Wayne favored the Republican candidate for president. 

Riley vs. Molinaro

Josh Riley declared victory at a watch party at an Ithaca brewery at 1:27 a.m. on November 6, 10 minutes after the Associated Press called the race in his favor.  

“We won this thing,” he said. “I believe in building the middle class. Those are New York State values and I’m going to take them to Congress.”

The NY-19 House race was identified as key in deciding if the U.S. House of Representatives has a Democratic or Republican majority. According to Politico, the NY-19 race has been identified as the most expensive House race in the country.

As of Monday, November 11 the House has yet to be called, but is likely to have a Republican majority. There are 209 seats projected for Democratic candidates and 216 seats projected for Republican candidates and 10 seats that have yet to have a projected winner, according to The Associated Press.

In his victory speech, Riley said, “Our kids deserve a planet with clean air,” and “Women deserve the right to make their own health care decisions.”

“I was reminded that we aren’t going to agree on everything but we will always strive to see the best in each other. What matters is that you’re American and you voted, and that’s one of the most patriotic things you can do these days,” he said.

Congressman Molinaro has not yet conceded as of November 11 and stated that he is waiting for “over 12,000” absentee and affidavit ballots to be tallied.

Bresnahan vs. Cartwright

Cartwright, the incumbent representative in the 8th Congressional District, first took his seat in 2013. Bresnahan, his challenger, ran off his experience as the CEO of a third-generation family electrical contracting company.

Bresnahan took 50.94 percent of votes across the district, earning 193,407 ballots to Cartwright’s 186,294. Sixty-six percent of Wayne County and 60 percent of Pike County voters favored Bresnahan.

Bresnahan released a statement the night of the election. “I am humbled and honored by the trust the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania have placed in me to serve as their voice in the House of Representatives,” he wrote.

He said, “I am eager to get to work for our district, and I give my word that as their Congressman, there will be no R or D next to my name—only N-E-P-A.”

Cartwright conceded the race in a statement made on Facebook a little before 1 p.m. on November 6.

He wrote, “I know this is not the result we hoped for, but it has been the honor of my life to represent our community in Congress. I am so proud of everything we’ve been able to deliver for northeastern Pennsylvania. “

Kay vs. Ingrassia

Democratic candidate Paula Elaine Kay defeated Republican Lou Ingrassia for the 100th District seat in the New York State Assembly NY-100. Kay beat Ingrassia by a little over 2,000 votes according to the NYS Board of Elections results.

Kay spoke to the River Reporter on Wednesday afternoon after declaring victory, saying, “I’m so grateful for the overwhelming support, especially in Middletown and the Town of Wallkill, and I’m ready to get to work on behalf of the residents of the 100th Assembly District.”

Sullivan County was virtually split between the candidates, narrowly going for Republican Ingrassia with 50.29 percent of the vote.

Kay will succeed longtime NY-100 representative Aileen Gunther (D).  As a resident of Sullivan County, Gunther has been an advocate for Sullivan constituents at the state level.

Kay told the River Reporter, “It was critically important for me to be elected so that Sullivan continues to have local representation on the state level.” Kay said as a resident of the Town of Thompson, she looks forward to continuing Gunther’s legacy in Sullivan County.

Ingrassia posted on Facebook, conceding a little before 12 noon on November 6. “I stand before you today with gratitude and pride, despite the outcome of this election. I want to extend my deepest thanks to everyone who supported me on this journey. Your tireless efforts, enthusiasm, and dedication have inspired me beyond words,” he said.

He also said in the post, “We may not have achieved victory today, but we’ve laid the groundwork for a brighter tomorrow.”

Kay said Ingrassia called her on the phone soon after posting as well.

Olsommer vs. Skibber

Election Day saw Jeff Olsommer (R), the incumbent for Pennsylvania House District 139, retain his seat in the general election. The district covers southern Wayne and northern Pike counties. He won the seat in a special election held this past April, defeating Robin Skibber (D) in that contest and defeating primary challengers to run in the general election.

“I’m am humbled by the overwhelming support I received from the people of the 139th District,” Olsommer said, in a statement in the evening of November 6.

“I want to thank all the volunteers that worked so hard to make this victory possible… I am looking forward to working very hard for all the constituents of Pike and Wayne counties,” Olsommer said.

Skibber had not released a statement as of press time on November 11.

Oberacker and Frazier

Incumbent Peter Oberacker will remain the NYS 51st Senate District’s representative based on the NYS Board of Elections preliminary election results.

Challenger Michele Frazier with all precincts reporting had 38.67 percent of the vote. Oberacker had 56.97 percent of the vote as of November 11.

Oberacker also won the majority of votes in Sullivan County but by a slightly smaller margin. Frazier won 41.23 percent of the vote in Sullivan County.

Proposal One NY

Based on the New York State Board of Elections reporting and the Associated Press press results, the state Proposal One, which will amend the NYS constitution with an updated Equal Rights Amendment, is passing.

As of November 11, 56.61 percent of the state voted “Yes” and 34.91 percent voted “No” on the proposal.

The proposal protects against future efforts from the New York State Legislature to restrict abortion rights, according to AP news. Abortion rights supporters are concerned that federal efforts could override state level protections, including through the criminalization of sending or receiving abortion medication through the mail, according to reporting from the States Newsroom.

President-elect Trump has expressed varying positions on whether he would support a federal abortion ban, from saying that he would support such a ban to saying states should determine their own abortion policies. Project 2025, a conservative playbook from the Heritage Foundation which has been linked to Trump’s candidacy, calls for “the next conservative President [to] work with Congress to enact the most robust protections for the unborn that Congress will support,” according to factcheck.org.

Proposal One amends the New York State Constitution’s existing equal protection clause, which dates from 1938. It specifies protection against unequal treatment based on “race, color, creed, or religion,” to include new constitutional protection including “ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”

Liz Krueger, the Democratic representative for New York State’s 28th Senate district, first introduced the proposal, a statewide version of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Krueger said that with the overturning of Roe v. Wade and “at a time when many state governments seek to eliminate certain fundamental rights, such as the right to an abortion or the right to marry whomever we choose,” the constitutional amendment is needed to “...ensure that the rights of all are enshrined in New York.”

Highland Town Board

According to preliminary results from the Sullivan County Board of Elections, Sonia M. Kidney will be the newest member of the Highland Town Board.

With 100 percent of the Town of Highland reporting, Kidney has 57.76 percent (588) of the votes versus challenger Gerard  P. Finn, who has 42.24 percent (430) votes.

The two candidates both ran saying they wanted to mend the town’s disconnect.

Election snapshots

Voters in Wayne and Pike counties emphasized the need for a change this election cycle.

One such voter, Jamie Crum of Beach Lake, said she cast her ballot because she wants—and needs—a change.

“It never mattered to me before, but the way the economy is for us as business owners,” it matters to her now, she said. This is the second election in which Crum has voted; she tried to vote the time before that as well, but wasn’t registered.

“Nervous” and “scared,” were used multiple times by Sullivan County voters to describe how they felt leaving the polls after casting their vote.

A voter in Callicoon said, “Hopefully things turn out smoothly. If they don’t, the country will end.”

Just after voting, nearly 10 voters from Highland and Tusten described feeling “disillusioned” and that their vote “makes no difference anyway.” One voter referenced the Electoral College.

Despite those feelings, ultimately they all voted.

Why? 

“You have to do something,” one Tusten resident said.