Jubilation in Kingston as Delgado, left, tops a crowded field
KINGSTON – Antonio Delgado of Rhinebeck is the unofficial winner in the race for the Democratic nomination in the 19th Congressional District Primary.
He prevailed with 22 percent of the unofficial preliminary vote. He received 7,690 out of roughly 35,000 ballots, with 436 out of 458 election districts reporting, as of late Tuesday night.
There were seven candidates. Two others dropped out early.
Delgado proceeds to the general election in November, when he’ll face first term Republican John Faso.
A jubilant crowd was waiting to welcome Delgado at a bookshop bar in Uptown Kingston Tuesday night.
Thanking his supporters and family, Delgado called it an incredible day for democracy. “A lot lies ahead,” he said.
“We’ve seen quite a bit happen of late that is profoundly disturbing,” Delgado said.. “There’s a cruelty in our current political system, that can no longer be tolerated – that is no longer acceptable, that is dark, that is ugly, and that festers on ignorance, and exploits anxiety that is actually not even there, based on the illusion of scarcity in this country.”
Calling out Faso, Delgado claimed his incumbent rival, “by his record, has demonstrated a willingness to defy the will of the people.” He said it is imperative to act accordingly, and engage, and work hard.
“But do so in accordance with your principles, with conviction, and love, and heart, and compassion, and empathy, and a fire, for truth, for truth! Now is not the time to be angry, to be personal, to be nativist, tribal; now is the time to transcend all of that and bring back hope, and prosperity, and opportunity for everybody, right here at home.”
Across town, similar gatherings heard concession speeches by the six losing candidates. Gareth Rhodes and Pat Ryan were nearly tied for second place, with less than 0.2 percent difference between them – both at just under 18 percent.
Jeff Beals and Brian Flynn were tied for third place, each with exactly 13.18 percent.
David Clegg came in fourth place, at 11.08 percent, and latecomer Erin Collier trailed in last place, at just 4.86 percent overall.
Although the tally was not complete, as of late Tuesday night, these unofficial numbers were considered sufficient for Delgado to declare victory; however, none of his Democratic primary opponents attended the Delgado celebration to congratulate or concede.
County-by-county, the primary results were significantly different, among the seven candidates, and the positions which they ranked.
In Ulster, Delgado only beat Clegg by a mere fraction higher than one percent, with Ryan trailing less than two points behind. In Dutchess, however, Clegg came in last place, behind Collier, and Ryan beat out Rhodes for 2nd place. There, Delgado had the highest lead, with 28.25 percent, on his home turf. Rhodes won Columbia County, by a large margin, with Delgado in second place, Ryan in third, Beals and Flynn closely tied for fourth.
Rhodes won in Delaware and Sullivan counties, in addition to Columbia.
Ryan won in Broome and Rensselaer counties.
Flynn won in Otsego and Greene counties, and came in second in Delaware County.
Beals nearly tied Delgado for third place in Delaware County, trailing by just three-quarters of a point.
