Democrat Josh Riley secured a second term in Congress on Tuesday, defeating Republican state Sen. Peter Oberacker in a competitive upstate New York district. The Associated Press called the race, with Riley holding a substantial lead.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, a Super PAC aligned with House Republicans, withdrew nearly $5 million in advertising for Oberacker following the resurfacing of a 2015 Veterans Day social media post. In the post, Oberacker honored his grandfather, Ludwig Oberacker, who fought for Nazi Germany and died during the Battle of the Bulge.
Riley significantly outraised Oberacker, with federal campaign finance records showing Riley garnered approximately $6 million compared to Oberacker's roughly $1.4 million by mid-October. After spending over $4.2 million, Riley maintained about $1.8 million in his campaign treasury, exceeding Oberacker's total fundraising.
Both candidates centered their campaigns on issues of affordability. Riley advocated for policies aimed at lowering utility bills and opposed the war in Iran, though some labor unions and construction groups questioned the efficacy of his proposed legislation concerning foreign ownership and executive pay.
Oberacker's campaign platform focused on cutting regulations and lowering taxes as key measures to address affordability. He had previously won a seat in the state Senate.