Democrats U.S. Representative Josh Riley and Michele Frazier discussed their key campaign priorities at a candidate forum Thursday night without their Republican challengers ahead of Election Day.

Incumbent Rep. Riley will face New York’s 51st Senate District Senator Peter Oberacker for the state’s 19th congressional district seat. As Oberacker prepares to vacate his Senate seat, Frazier and Republican New York Assemblymember Christopher Tague are competing to succeed him in the state’s 51st Senate District.

All four candidates were invited to the forum, but Tague and Oberacker were absent. The lack of debates or candidates forums where both NY-19 and SD-51 party candidates are participating are part of a growing trend of declining debates across U.S. elections.

Camille O’Brien, Community Outreach Director for Oberacker, said Oberacker re-twisted his leg earlier that afternoon after quad reconstruction surgery two weeks ago, while Tague had an existing commitment for his wife’s birthday. O’Brien made opening remarks on behalf of both Tague and Oberacker. 

“ Peter Oberacker is laser-focused on bringing down the cost of living for every resident of the 19th District, starting with his utility rate payer Bill of Rights. He’s pledged to introduce the legislation on day one in Congress, immediately lower your energy bills, and hold the utility companies accountable,” said O’Brien. “When everybody’s rates jumped last year, he immediately came out and asked for everybody to send bills, comments, issues to his office.”

NAACP Ellenville and NAACP Sullivan County branches held the candidate forum at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. The panels were moderated by NAACP Ellenville’s Molly Esteves.

Candidates narrow in on affordability and rural solutions

Frazier talked about how rising unaffordability is affecting New Yorkers’ healthcare and housing. She pushed for the New York Health Act, a state bill that would implement a single-payer, universal health care system across New York. 

Frazier, who has a special needs son, said she knows what it’s like to drive long distances from Delhi to Cooperstown to get an appointment she and her family waited months for.

“The current [health care] system has made a dearth of individuals leaving our rural hospitals and communities for higher Medicaid reimbursement counties,” said Frazier. “If we can actually change that system, bring our healthcare back to our local communities, we solve this issue.”

New York’s 51st Senate District includes Delaware, Sullivan, and Ulster counties, along with Schoharie, Otsego, Broome, and Chenango counties.

Frazier, a real estate agent, also pushed for more state funding to rehab old housing stock, support homebuyers, and incentivize smaller projects conducive to rural settings.  ”Most of our incentives are geared towards urban housing where they look for 500 units. We need 20 units. We need 15 units,” she said.

READ: The Races We’re Watching in NY & Northeast PA

Riley, who narrowly beat Republican former Rep. Marc Molinaro in Nov. 2024 for the state’s 19th congressional district, narrowed in on his wins to bring funding back to the rural hospitals in the Catskills, including securing $600,000 to Margaretville Hospital that will open a new heliport to speed up emergency transfers in the Catskills.

The rural district spans the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, extending into the Capital District and the Catskills regions. It includes Sullivan, Ulster, and Delaware counties.

Riley also discussed his stance on immigration, saying immigrant farmworkers are terrified that “a bunch of masked ICE agents are gonna come and detain and take [them away].”

“It basically comes down to this: we need an immigration system that is tough and fair. If you’re here unlawfully and you’re committing violent crimes and harming the community, you should be removed,” said Riley. “If you are here, you’re paying your taxes, you’re working hard, you’re contributing to our economy, you’re contributing to our community the way so many immigrants are, then you deserve the same shot at the American dream that generations of folks before us had.”

Early voting in New York kicks off on Oct. 24 and ends on Nov. 1. Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Looking for more election coverage? Here’s a full list of the races we’re watching across the Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania and our election guide so you know where, when, and how to vote.