GOP Candidate Accuses Rep. Pat Ryan of Sending Children to DC Schools

Republican congressional candidate Jackie Auringer has accused Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan of sending his children to schools near Washington, D.C., rather than within the New York district he represents. Auringer is requesting an investigation into whether Ryan or another household member claimed D.C. residency for tuition-free public school enrollment.

"Pat Ryan has collected more than $60,000 from taxpayers for lodging in Washington while receiving a $12,400 veterans property-tax exemption on his claimed primary residence in New York," Auringer stated. "At the same time, we now know his family has been using DC schools. The question for DC officials is simple — who claimed DC residency, and were those representations accurate?"

Auringer has submitted a letter to the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), which handles investigations into potential nonresidency in the city's public schools. According to Auringer's campaign, evidence suggests at least one of Ryan's children attended a D.C. public school in 2024. Under D.C. regulations, enrollment as a resident requires only one custodial parent to be a D.C. resident. If a parent claims D.C. residency for this purpose, and the child attends as a resident, they would need a tuition agreement and to pay tuition if they do not meet residency requirements.

Knowingly providing false information for student residency verification in D.C. can lead to penalties, including retroactive tuition charges, fines of up to $2,000, or imprisonment for up to 90 days. Such cases may also be referred to the D.C. Office of the Attorney General.

Auringer's challenge echoes past political criticism. In 2018, then-candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized her primary opponent, Rep. Joe Crowley, for enrolling his children in Virginia schools instead of his New York district, arguing that elected officials should invest in the communities they represent by sending their children to local public schools.

Ryan, a former Ulster County executive and Army veteran, was first elected to represent New York's 18th Congressional District in 2022. The district includes parts of Orange, Dutchess, and Ulster counties. A spokesperson for Ryan stated, "For the safety of his family, we do not comment on the location of his four- and seven-year-old children."

Auringer is a project manager and managerial accountant at her family's construction business, Urban Precast. The Cook Political Report rates the 18th District as "solid Democrat."