More than $35M Spent: New York House Race Leads U.S. in Campaign Expenditures
An important electoral contest in upstate New York is regarded as one of the most fiercely contested in the nation.
TroibNews 
ALBANY, New York — The political clash between Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro and Democrat Josh Riley has emerged as the nation's most expensive House race, gaining significant momentum since Vice President Kamala Harris joined the Democratic ticket.
Combined spending by the candidates, House campaign arms, and super PACs has exceeded $35.5 million on television and digital advertising, turning the contest into a national debate over issues like abortion and border policy.
Molinaro’s seat is one of five districts targeted by New York Democrats in this election cycle as they aim to regain control of the House.
Republicans are optimistic that Riley, who narrowly lost to Molinaro by fewer than 2 points two years ago, will gain an advantage with Harris stepping in for Biden this summer, intensifying the campaign.
GOP consultant Vince Casale, who is involved with a super PAC in the district, speculated that while Harris may not achieve the same level of support in this district as Biden did four years ago, her presence will likely enhance turnout for Riley.
“She’s not going to perform in this district as well as Biden did four years ago,” Casale said. “She brings the base back home for them.”
The influx of campaign spending has led to a saturation of local television advertising in what is otherwise a non-competitive presidential election state.
Despite the significant financial resources, there has been limited public polling in the area.
In July, before Biden exited the race, Molinaro’s campaign released an internal poll indicating he had a 9-point lead. However, a September poll for the group U.S. Term Limits found Riley ahead of Molinaro by 3 points, nearly within the poll’s 4.6 percent margin of error.
Molinaro has adopted a bold stance on border issues, even supporting the unverified allegation from vice presidential candidate JD Vance that Haitian immigrants are involved in pet consumption in Ohio.
In attempting to keep former President Donald Trump’s supporters engaged, Molinaro has also sought to reassure voters, including those in heavily Democratic parts of the district, that he opposes a national ban on abortion or IVF.
“One of the challenges is not only reaching out to all of these people, but you have to speak to the masses and know that the priorities and values can be vastly different from one region to the other,” Casale stated.
The race has turned sharply negative, reflecting the intense competition between two otherwise amiable candidates known for their centrist views.
Riley, a former Senate counsel, has been depicted by Republicans as a “D.C. insider who helped write Biden’s border policies.” Conversely, Democrats have framed Molinaro as someone who would “ban abortion nationwide — even in New York.”
Such assertions are often exaggerated or misleading. Both campaigns are continuously releasing “fact checks” aimed at discrediting each other’s ads, but the inundation of funding has overshadowed these efforts.
Current spending in the district has already surpassed the total from 2022, which saw both parties spend a combined $21.2 million. The financial momentum shows no signs of waning.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, aligned with House Republicans, has invested $11.1 million in this race, becoming the top spender in the district, according to AdImpact, a media tracking firm. This financial support is the largest for any competitive House race in the state.
On Tuesday, the CLF revealed it would add another $3.5 million for television airtime in New York, potentially bolstering Molinaro’s campaign in the weeks to come. This organization has contributed a total of $32.5 million to New York House races this cycle.
"While elite DC lawyer Josh Riley cozied up to Democrat activists and pushed far-left progressive policies, Congressman Marc Molinaro has fought to lower taxes, cut costs, and secure the border,” stated CLF President Dan Conston. “We're proud to support Congressman Molinaro again this cycle, as he sends carpetbagger Josh Riley packing a second time.”
On the Democratic front, the House Majority PAC has allocated $5.1 million to the district, equaling investments seen in the fiercely contested Long Island race between Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito and Democrat Laura Gillen.
“Marc Molinaro is an anti-abortion extremist who has sold out NY-19 for 30 years,” said House Majority PAC spokesperson CJ Warnke. “That’s why this district is a prime flip opportunity.”
The district spans a vast area, extending from New York’s border with Massachusetts to the Southern Tier near Pennsylvania and encompasses five distinct media markets, complicating advertising efforts.
Democratic-aligned groups, including the House Democrats' campaign committee, Riley’s own campaign, House Majority Forward, and Empire State Voices, have collectively outspent Republicans in the district throughout the election cycle, with totals of $18.7 million to $16.8 million.
Both candidates and their well-financed allies are racing to shape the narrative about their opponents. This has resulted in a series of negative advertisements targeting Molinaro and Riley on issues related to abortion and immigration.
Additionally, the significant investment in television and digital advertising highlighted by AdImpact does not account for the extensive volunteer efforts both parties are deploying in the district.
The state Democratic Committee has established seven field offices in the area, hiring 12 full-time staff members.
Riley has been a consistent candidate, making his second attempt for the House after previously working as a Senate counsel. He has proven to be a strong fundraiser, and his campaign has outspent Molinaro. Democrats have capitalized on their budget to label Molinaro as an opponent of abortion, even as the Republican clarifies his stance on not supporting changes to current federal law that would restrict the procedure.
Molinaro’s campaign has emphasized attacking Riley’s connections to Washington as a vulnerability, linking it to ongoing debates over border enforcement.
“While Josh Riley got rich in DC, his open border policy killed New Yorkers and their jobs,” Molinaro asserted. “Voters are rightfully angry at him and money won't change that.”
Riley’s team has countered these claims as inaccurate, noting that his work as a Senate counsel involved contributing to a bipartisan immigration bill focusing on domestic violence provisions, which ultimately did not pass.
In a recent interview, Riley expressed a desire to engage Republican voters, including those who typically support Trump, who might otherwise lean towards a straight GOP ticket. He also emphasized that voters are actively engaged in the race. He has openly committed to addressing border policy both in speeches and campaign advertising.
“It’s a very competitive district. It’s a very hard-fought race,” he remarked. “That’s how it should be. No one can win this district without appealing to people on the other side of the aisle.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
Combined spending by the candidates, House campaign arms, and super PACs has exceeded $35.5 million on television and digital advertising, turning the contest into a national debate over issues like abortion and border policy.
Molinaro’s seat is one of five districts targeted by New York Democrats in this election cycle as they aim to regain control of the House.
Republicans are optimistic that Riley, who narrowly lost to Molinaro by fewer than 2 points two years ago, will gain an advantage with Harris stepping in for Biden this summer, intensifying the campaign.
GOP consultant Vince Casale, who is involved with a super PAC in the district, speculated that while Harris may not achieve the same level of support in this district as Biden did four years ago, her presence will likely enhance turnout for Riley.
“She’s not going to perform in this district as well as Biden did four years ago,” Casale said. “She brings the base back home for them.”
The influx of campaign spending has led to a saturation of local television advertising in what is otherwise a non-competitive presidential election state.
Despite the significant financial resources, there has been limited public polling in the area.
In July, before Biden exited the race, Molinaro’s campaign released an internal poll indicating he had a 9-point lead. However, a September poll for the group U.S. Term Limits found Riley ahead of Molinaro by 3 points, nearly within the poll’s 4.6 percent margin of error.
Molinaro has adopted a bold stance on border issues, even supporting the unverified allegation from vice presidential candidate JD Vance that Haitian immigrants are involved in pet consumption in Ohio.
In attempting to keep former President Donald Trump’s supporters engaged, Molinaro has also sought to reassure voters, including those in heavily Democratic parts of the district, that he opposes a national ban on abortion or IVF.
“One of the challenges is not only reaching out to all of these people, but you have to speak to the masses and know that the priorities and values can be vastly different from one region to the other,” Casale stated.
The race has turned sharply negative, reflecting the intense competition between two otherwise amiable candidates known for their centrist views.
Riley, a former Senate counsel, has been depicted by Republicans as a “D.C. insider who helped write Biden’s border policies.” Conversely, Democrats have framed Molinaro as someone who would “ban abortion nationwide — even in New York.”
Such assertions are often exaggerated or misleading. Both campaigns are continuously releasing “fact checks” aimed at discrediting each other’s ads, but the inundation of funding has overshadowed these efforts.
Current spending in the district has already surpassed the total from 2022, which saw both parties spend a combined $21.2 million. The financial momentum shows no signs of waning.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, aligned with House Republicans, has invested $11.1 million in this race, becoming the top spender in the district, according to AdImpact, a media tracking firm. This financial support is the largest for any competitive House race in the state.
On Tuesday, the CLF revealed it would add another $3.5 million for television airtime in New York, potentially bolstering Molinaro’s campaign in the weeks to come. This organization has contributed a total of $32.5 million to New York House races this cycle.
"While elite DC lawyer Josh Riley cozied up to Democrat activists and pushed far-left progressive policies, Congressman Marc Molinaro has fought to lower taxes, cut costs, and secure the border,” stated CLF President Dan Conston. “We're proud to support Congressman Molinaro again this cycle, as he sends carpetbagger Josh Riley packing a second time.”
On the Democratic front, the House Majority PAC has allocated $5.1 million to the district, equaling investments seen in the fiercely contested Long Island race between Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito and Democrat Laura Gillen.
“Marc Molinaro is an anti-abortion extremist who has sold out NY-19 for 30 years,” said House Majority PAC spokesperson CJ Warnke. “That’s why this district is a prime flip opportunity.”
The district spans a vast area, extending from New York’s border with Massachusetts to the Southern Tier near Pennsylvania and encompasses five distinct media markets, complicating advertising efforts.
Democratic-aligned groups, including the House Democrats' campaign committee, Riley’s own campaign, House Majority Forward, and Empire State Voices, have collectively outspent Republicans in the district throughout the election cycle, with totals of $18.7 million to $16.8 million.
Both candidates and their well-financed allies are racing to shape the narrative about their opponents. This has resulted in a series of negative advertisements targeting Molinaro and Riley on issues related to abortion and immigration.
Additionally, the significant investment in television and digital advertising highlighted by AdImpact does not account for the extensive volunteer efforts both parties are deploying in the district.
The state Democratic Committee has established seven field offices in the area, hiring 12 full-time staff members.
Riley has been a consistent candidate, making his second attempt for the House after previously working as a Senate counsel. He has proven to be a strong fundraiser, and his campaign has outspent Molinaro. Democrats have capitalized on their budget to label Molinaro as an opponent of abortion, even as the Republican clarifies his stance on not supporting changes to current federal law that would restrict the procedure.
Molinaro’s campaign has emphasized attacking Riley’s connections to Washington as a vulnerability, linking it to ongoing debates over border enforcement.
“While Josh Riley got rich in DC, his open border policy killed New Yorkers and their jobs,” Molinaro asserted. “Voters are rightfully angry at him and money won't change that.”
Riley’s team has countered these claims as inaccurate, noting that his work as a Senate counsel involved contributing to a bipartisan immigration bill focusing on domestic violence provisions, which ultimately did not pass.
In a recent interview, Riley expressed a desire to engage Republican voters, including those who typically support Trump, who might otherwise lean towards a straight GOP ticket. He also emphasized that voters are actively engaged in the race. He has openly committed to addressing border policy both in speeches and campaign advertising.
“It’s a very competitive district. It’s a very hard-fought race,” he remarked. “That’s how it should be. No one can win this district without appealing to people on the other side of the aisle.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
