Democrat Pat Ryan beat Republican Marc Molinaro in the special election to replace former Democratic Rep. Antonio Delgado in New York’s 19th District. Delgado is now lieutenant governor of New York.

Molinaro – who will be on the ballot in a redrawn district this November against a different Democratic opponent – focused his campaign on bashing President Joe Biden, inflation and crime. Ryan – a 40-year-old West Point grad and Iraq War combat veteran who will be on the ballot in the 18th District this fall – relied heavily on a pro abortion rights message. Ryan repeatedly declared “Choice was on the ballot” throughout the campaign, while also calling for an assault weapons ban.

No poll ever showed Ryan leading, not even the one released by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. A survey published by a progressive group right before the election had Molinaro up by eight points. Both sides poured money into the final stages of this bellwether Hudson Valley race…

“What happened in New York 19th [District] is an earthquake,” a very pleased Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Sean Patrick Maloney (N.Y.) told us around midnight.