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D Democratic · Incumbent · U.S. House 19, New York · Nov 3, 2026

Josh
Riley

Democratic U.S. Representative for NY-19, first elected in 2024, running for reelection in 2026

Researched checked 6 d ago
sources
19
positions
12
endorsements
25
joshrileyforcongress.com ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Opponent Peter K. Oberacker R Compare race →

Background

Josh Riley is the Democratic U.S. Representative for New York's 19th Congressional District, having been elected in 2024 and sworn in on January 3, 2025. 15 Before his election, Riley ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 2022. 14

Prior to Congress, Riley worked as a policy analyst at the U.S. Department of Labor, clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, served as counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and represented children from low-income families in a civil-rights case. 1 He holds a B.A. from the College of William & Mary (2003) and a J.D. from Harvard University (2007). 19

Riley is from Endicott, New York, and is listed by the House Clerk as residing in Ithaca, New York. 15 He is running for reelection in the November 3, 2026 general election against Republican challenger Oberacker. 6

At a glance

Party
Democratic · Incumbent
Running for
U.S. House · District 19, New York
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Current office
U.S. Representative, New York's 19th Congressional District
Website
joshrileyforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 7
    debate
    Oberacker again criticizes Riley for refusing to debate; no debate scheduled as of October 7

    Oberacker again criticized Riley for not debating. Riley's campaign said he would rather speak directly with voters. As of October 7, no debate between the two was scheduled.

    Riley refuses to debate Oberacker after GOP challenges · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oct 6
    filing
    Riley introduces bill to restore Essential Plan health coverage for 450,000+ New Yorkers

    Riley introduced the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act, proposing to restore federal funding for New York's Essential Plan. Riley's office said nearly 15,000 people in the district and more than 450,000 statewide could be affected. This is a proposal, not an enacted coverage restoration.

    Riley introduces bill to restore Essential Plan coverage in New York · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Oct 5
    endorsement
    Riley reported to have endorsements from 40+ organizations including HRC and Working Families Party

    A campaign preview reported Riley had been endorsed by more than 40 organizations, including Citizen Action of New York, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Working Families Party. Riley also holds the Working Families Party ballot line.

    Election Preview: Riley v. Oberacker for U.S. Congress · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Oct 5
    news
    Riley demands Verizon explain rural copper landline shutoff notices

    Riley's office asked Verizon to explain notices warning that copper landline service could be discontinued. Verizon had filed an FCC application on September 9 seeking approval to end the service as soon as November 30. Riley said fiber and wireless alternatives might not be reliable for some rural communities.

    RILEY DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM VERIZON OVER ... · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sep 24
    debate
    Riley declines Hartwick College debate invitation; campaigns dispute format

    Hartwick College invited the candidates to a forum. Riley's campaign declined the debate format and offered for him to appear alone; campaigns tentatively agreed to a post-election event instead. Riley's campaign said it accepts invitations from nonpartisan organizations with a longstanding history of hosting forums.

    Riley declines, Oberacker ignores college debate invitation · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sep 24
    news
    Riley and Rep. Gallagher introduce bipartisan Improving Rural Transportation Act

    Riley and Republican Rep. James Gallagher introduced the bipartisan Improving Rural Transportation Act, which would create a federal grant program for rural transportation infrastructure.

    RILEY INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO IMPROVE ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sep 19
    news
    Riley helps pass bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to shield customers from data-center grid costs

    The House passed the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, which would prevent utilities from charging customers for grid upgrades needed for data centers and instead place those costs on the technology companies driving demand.

    RILEY HELPS PASS BIPARTISAN BILL TO HOLD DATA CENTERS ACCOUNTABLE, LOWER UTILITY BILLS FOR UPSTATE NEW YORKERS · Sep 19, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sep 16
    news
    House unanimously passes bipartisan Xylazine bill that Riley cosponsored

    The House passed the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which Riley cosponsored, to crack down on the deadly sedative xylazine ('tranq') that makes fentanyl even more lethal.

    HOUSE PASSES RILEY BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON “TRANQ ... · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  9. Sep 14
    news
    Riley convenes utility-cost roundtable for Upstate New Yorkers

    Riley held a roundtable focused on utility costs affecting constituents in his district, part of his broader push on energy and utility issues.

    ICYMI: RILEY CONVENES ROUNDTABLE ON UTILITY COSTS · Sep 14, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  10. Sep 2
    filing
    Riley certified as Democratic/Working Families candidate for NY-19 general election

    New York's certified general-election listing includes Riley as the Democratic and Working Families candidate for U.S. House District 19. The general election is November 3.

    Josh Riley (D) — U.S. Representative, NY-19 | 2026 profile · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • North America's Building Trades Unions union
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Working Families Party organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Brady PAC organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • League of Conservation Voters organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Reproductive Freedom for All organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Planned Parenthood Action Fund organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • NRDC Action Fund organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Communications Workers of America union
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • United Auto Workers Region 9 union
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Amalgamated Transit Union union
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • New York State Nurses Association union
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • LiUNA New York union
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Working Families Party of New York organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • End Citizens United organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • National Organization for Women PAC organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • 1199 SEIU union
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • American Federation of Government Employees union
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • New York State Building & Construction Trades Council union
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Citizen Action of New York organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • Giffords PAC organization
    Listed as a 2026 endorser on Riley's campaign endorsements page; no date given. joshrileyforcongress.com
  • MoveOn organization
    Endorsed Riley for reelection; endorsement page dated September 21, 2026. front.moveon.org · Sep 21, 2026
  • New York Teamsters (International Brotherhood of Teamsters) union
    New York Teamsters announced a slate of congressional endorsements on August 27, 2026, including Riley. teamster.org · Aug 27, 2026
  • Human Rights Campaign PAC organization
    Endorsed Riley as part of a slate of pro-equality House candidates in key competitive districts. hrc.org · Jun 24, 2026
  • Animal Wellness Action organization
    Included Riley in its New York congressional endorsements; an endorsement letter dated June 18, 2026 endorsed his reelection campaign. animalwellnessaction.org · Jun 22, 2026

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$4.83M
Spent
$1.70M
Cash on hand
$3.19M

As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H8NY22177(opens in a new tab)

Sources 19

  1. [1] Riley refuses to debate Oberacker after GOP challenges(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
  2. [2] Riley introduces bill to restore Essential Plan coverage in New York(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
  3. [3] Election Preview: Riley v. Oberacker for U.S. Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  4. [4] RILEY DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM VERIZON OVER ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  5. [5] Josh Riley (D) — U.S. Representative, NY-19 | 2026 profile(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
  6. [6] Riley declines, Oberacker ignores college debate invitation(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
  7. [7] RILEY INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO IMPROVE ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
  8. [8] Josh Riley : MoveOn: People-Powered Progress(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
  9. [9] RILEY HELPS PASS BIPARTISAN BILL TO HOLD DATA CENTERS ACCOUNTABLE, LOWER UTILITY BILLS FOR UPSTATE NEW YORKERS(opens in a new tab) Sep 19, 2026
  10. [10] HOUSE PASSES RILEY BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON “TRANQ ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
  11. [11] ICYMI: RILEY CONVENES ROUNDTABLE ON UTILITY COSTS(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
  12. [12] New York Teamsters Announce 2026 Endorsements for ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 27, 2026
  13. [13] Endorsements - Josh Riley for Congress(opens in a new tab) Aug 11, 2026
  14. [14] Josh Riley for Congress | Issues(opens in a new tab) Aug 4, 2026
  15. [15] HOUSE PASSES RILEY-BACKED MEASURES TO LOWER ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 25, 2026
  16. [16] Human Rights Campaign Endorses a Slate of Pro-Equality ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 24, 2026
  17. [17] Our Endorsements in 23 New York Congressional Contests(opens in a new tab) Jun 22, 2026
  18. [18] RILEY, LANDSMAN LEAD EFFORT TO DRAIN THE SWAMP(opens in a new tab) Jun 10, 2026
  19. [19] RILEY BILL TO REDUCE CRIME, PROTECT UPSTATE ...(opens in a new tab) May 13, 2026
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