MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.—Orange County voters face many consequential decisions in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which allow U.S. citizens to choose their local, state, and federal representatives.
New York state gives people nine days to vote before Election Day, with early voting running from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1 for the general election. You can find local polling places on the state government’s website.
Congressional District 18
In Orange County’s only federal race, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) is running against Republican challenger Jackie Auringer in Congressional District 18.
The district covers all of the county and much of Dutchess County, extending to the New Paltz, Poughkeepsie, and Saugerties areas.
Democrat and Working Families Party candidate Ryan is running for his third term in Congress, while Republican and conservative nominee Auringer approaches politics as an outsider with no previous office experience.
Ryan’s campaign focuses include affordability, support for law enforcement, and protection for abortion access. Auringer also runs on affordability, supports small businesses and trades, and promotes government transparency.
Ryan’s perspective on affordability is anti-big corporation and anti-ultra-rich. Auringer’s campaign website says lowering the cost of living means “addressing taxes, energy costs, everyday expenses, and healthcare costs.”
Governor
The race for governor this election cycle pits incumbent Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, against Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Hochul has served as New York governor since 2021.
Hochul is campaigning on her accomplishments as governor, including sending inflation refund checks, lowering auto insurance rates, and banning cellphones in schools. Her running mate is Adrienne Adams, a Democrat from the borough of Queens and a former speaker of the New York City Council.
Blakeman focuses on his successes in Long Island, including hiring more law enforcement officers and preventing tax increases. Sheriff Todd Hood of Madison County, near Syracuse, is running for lieutenant governor. Hood plans to use his law enforcement leadership experience to help New York.
State Comptroller
The race for comptroller pits longtime State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, against challenger Joseph Hernandez, a Republican. DiNapoli has served as New York’s comptroller since 2007.
Hernandez, a biotech and healthcare entrepreneur, is running on a spend-less platform. He said he believes that Albany’s big spending should be better monitored, fraud should be a bigger focus of the comptroller’s office, and public pensions should be better monitored.
DiNapoli’s campaign highlights his opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump—whom he views as a threat to New York’s fiscal health—and his record as comptroller. His website says he protects the environment, supports commonsense gun laws, and stands up for the middle class against corporations and billionaires.
The state comptroller’s job includes auditing government payments, monitoring refunds, and overseeing the state pensions and retirement funds.
Sheriff
The county sheriff’s office is up for election between incumbent Republican Paul Arteta and challenger Democrat Bernie Rivers.
Arteta was first elected sheriff in 2022, defeating Rivers. Arteta has served in Orange County law enforcement since 1992, including as deputy sheriff of the Criminal Division. Rivers is the retired director of the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Law Enforcement and has been in law enforcement for more than 40 years.
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the title of Adrienne Adams, a former speaker of the New York City Council. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
