Democrat Pat Ryan Selected to Congress in New York

ALBANY, NY (AP) — US Rep. Pat Ryan, a Democrat, has won a full term representing part of New York’s Hudson Valley by defeating Republican Colin Schmitt.

With his victory, Ryan becomes one of just a few Democrats in the suburbs around New York City who held off Republican opponents in the midterm election.

The Democrat initially won a seat in Congress in August in a special election to finish out the term of former US Rep. Antonio Delgado, who resigned to become New York’s lieutenant governor.

His contest with Schmitt took place in a different congressional district where he had to introduce himself to a new batch of potential constituents.

Schmitt, a second-term state Assemblyman, conceded the race Wednesday.

Ryan, the former Ulster County executive, campaigned hard on abortion rights and Democrats hoped his summer win in the special election would be a bellwether for more victories in the suburbs.

But Republicans had a strong showing in New York, sweeping all four congressional districts on Long Island and ousting US Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, a Democrat whose district would have adjoined Ryan’s.

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