Josh Riley

Democrat candidate for U.S. House in New York, the incumbent. Every point on this page links to its source. We don't grade candidates or tell you how to vote. As of 2026-09-29.

At a glance

PartyDemocrat
Running forU.S. House, New York
Born1981
EducationHarvard University; Harvard Law School; College of William & Mary; Union-Endicott High School
Occupationlawyer, politician

Source: Wikidata

Record

U.S. Representative, New York's 19th district2025–presentBiographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
Accurate?

Full official biography, including earlier offices (Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress)

In Congress: 19 bills and resolutions sponsored, 425 cosponsored, 0 became law on their own (a bill folded into a larger law isn't counted). Congress.gov

Where they stand

In their own words, from their campaign and official websites, summarised in plain English. House roll-call votes are not included yet: the Senate's are, and the House's come from a different source still being added.

Economy and cost of living

Riley says he wants to lower costs by banning corporate price gouging, suspending the federal gas tax, capping child care costs, banning Wall Street investors from buying up homes, and bringing manufacturing jobs back to Upstate New York.

“Banning corporate price gouging, because no one should get rich by screwing over working people.”
Accurate?

Taxes and government spending

Riley says he wants a simpler tax code with a tax cut for the middle class, including a bigger Child Tax Credit, full deductions for union dues and work expenses, and no federal tax on Social Security benefits. He also wants to end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.

“The Middle Class needs a tax cut; billionaires and big corporations don’t.”
Accurate?

Health care

Riley says he wants to let Medicare negotiate drug prices and cap out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 a year. He also wants insurers to spend more premiums on care, add dental, vision and hearing to Medicare, and fund rural hospitals and telehealth.

“Empowering Medicare to negotiate down the price of drugs for everyone, and capping out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 per year;”
Accurate?

Social Security and Medicare

Riley says he will never cut a penny from Social Security or Medicare. He wants to end federal taxes on Social Security benefits, keep local Social Security offices open, add dental, vision and hearing to Medicare, and make Medicare telehealth coverage permanent.

“Josh will never cut a penny from Social Security or Medicare.”
Accurate?

Immigration and the border

Riley says he wants to hire more border agents and immigration judges, add fentanyl detection at ports of entry, and update visa programs for farms and trades. He says he supports legal immigration and wants a bipartisan fix to the immigration system.

“Hire new border agents and ensure law enforcement has the resources they need to secure the border and stop and deter illegal immigration;”
Accurate?

Abortion

Riley says women's health care decisions should be left to women, not politicians. He says he is pushing to pass the Women's Health Protection Act to restore Roe v. Wade protections, protect birth control access, and block limits on mifepristone.

“women’s healthcare decisions are women’s healthcare decisions, and politicians should stay the hell out of them.”
Accurate?

Energy and climate

Riley says he wants to lower utility bills by challenging rate hikes in court, banning foreign ownership of utilities, and barring CEO bonuses when rates rise. He also says he wants to protect the EPA's power to regulate greenhouse gases, make polluters pay for cleanups, and upgrade water systems.

Accurate?

Guns

Riley says he wants to keep guns from people who pose a danger while honoring the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding owners. He supports universal background checks and safe storage laws for guns in homes.

“Fighting for universal background checks to close dangerous loopholes”
Accurate?

Foreign policy and defense

Riley says America should show strength while pursuing peace. He wants to confront Iran, Russia, China and North Korea, combat terrorism, secure the borders, and spend defense funds efficiently while putting American jobs first.

“America is strongest and most secure when we demonstrate strength while pursuing peace.”
Accurate?

Elections and ethics in government

Riley says he wants to ban corporate PACs, overturn Citizens United, and bar members of Congress from trading individual stocks. He also backs congressional term limits, Supreme Court term limits and an ethics code, restoring the Voting Rights Act, and ending partisan gerrymandering.

“Ending partisan gerrymandering–because voters should choose their political leaders, not the other way around;”
Accurate?

Money

From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.

Josh Riley (DEM, incumbent)

Raised
$4.8M through 2026-06-30 individuals $3.5M · PACs $739K · party $5,022 · from the candidate's other committees $561K · cash on hand $3.2M
Outside spending
$18K supporting Riley · latest reported 2026-09-15
Largest outside spenders
RURAL FREEDOM NETWORK — $12K supporting Riley PLANNED PARENTHOOD VOTES — $2,910 supporting Riley Largest donors: Deborah Simon $3.0M (38%), Retired; Mary Quinn Delaney $1.5M (19%), Retired; Denise Sobel $1.2M (16%), Retired; PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND, INC. $500K (6%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Eileen Laspa $400K (5%), Retired NEW YORK STATE COMMITTEE OF THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY — $2,250 supporting Riley GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION — $372 supporting Riley Largest donors: LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, INC. $946K (40%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); NRDC ACTION FUND INC. $922K (39%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); LCV VICTORY FUND $500K (21%) SIERRA CLUB INDEPENDENT ACTION — $10 supporting Riley
228 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
  • 10000 LAKES PAC $2,500
  • A PLEASANT PENINSULA PAC $1,000
  • ACADEMY OF RAIL LABOR ATTORNEYS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,500
  • AFLAC PAC $1,000
  • AG PAC $2,000
  • AGRI-MARK INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC $5,500
  • ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC $5,000
  • AMALGAMATED SUGAR CO. PAC $1,500
  • AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION - COPE $2,500
  • AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATION PAC $2,000
  • AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AAJ PAC) $10K
  • AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CROP INSURERS PAC $3,000
  • AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETICS (CRNA PAC) $4,500
  • AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR CO. PAC $5,000
  • AMERICAN DEFENSE AND MILITARY PAC $9,000
  • AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PEOPLE $10K
  • AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFL-CIO COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION $10K
  • AMERICAN INNOVATION PAC (AMI PAC) $2,000
  • AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB PAC $1,000
  • AMERICAN MARITIME OFFICERS VOLUNTARY PAC $3,000
  • AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • AMERICAN MOSAIC PAC $1,000
  • AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $4,500
  • AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION PHYSICAL THERAPY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PT-PAC) $2,500
  • AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL ACTION $3,500
  • AMERICAN SUGAR CANE LEAGUE OF USA, INC. PAC $3,000
  • AMERICAN SUGARBEET GROWERS ASSOCIATION PAC $1,000
  • AMERICAN VETERINARIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PAC $4,000
  • AMERICANS MAKING OPPORTUNITIES PAC $1,000
  • AMERIPAC: THE FUND FOR A GREATER AMERICA $10K
  • ARIZONA DAIRYMEN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (UNITED DAIRYMEN OF ARIZONA) $500
  • ASSOCIATED MILK PRODUCERS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL FLIGHT ATTENDANTS PAC (APFA PAC) $1,000
  • AT THE TABLE! $3,000
  • BACKPAC $3,500
  • BAMA PAC $2,500
  • BARRAGAN FOR CONGRESS $1,500
  • BEEPAC (BUILDING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PAC) $5,000
  • BEYOND THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS PAC $5,000
  • BILL FOSTER FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • BLUE MAJORITY PAC $1,000
  • BLUE MOMENTUM PAC $5,000
  • BLUE VISION $2,500
  • BLUEWAVEAMERICA LLC $2,000
  • BRICKLAYERS AND ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS PAC $10K
  • BRIDGE THE GAP PAC $5,000
  • BUILD AMERICA PAC $5,000
  • BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN DIVERSE GEOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENTS PAC (BRIDGE PAC) $2,500
  • CA LUV PAC (CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP UNITED FOR VICTORY PAC) $10K
  • CALIFORNIA DAIRIES, INC. FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • CALL TO SERVE $2,000
  • CARPENTERS LEGISLATIVE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE $10K
  • CLARKE FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • CLEAN PAC $1,000
  • COMMITTEE FOR A DEMOCRATIC FUTURE $4,000
  • COMMITTEE TO ELECT RUTH B. BALSER $20
  • COMMON SENSE DEMOCRAT PAC $1,000
  • COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA - COPE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE $10K
  • CROP INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION PAC $1,000
  • DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA PAC $7,500
  • DARIGOLD POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FKA NORTH PACIFIC DAIRY $1,000
  • DEBORAH ROSS FOR CONGRESS $3,000
  • DEFEND THE VOTE $5,000
  • DEMOCRACY ACTION NOW PAC $2,000
  • DEMOCRATIC ACTION NETWORK $1,000
  • DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY FUND $10K
  • DEMOCRATIC VALUES PAC $1,000
  • DEMOCRATS RESHAPING AMERICA PAC (DREAMPAC) $3,000
  • DEMOCRATS WIN FUND $2,000
  • DEMOCRATS WIN SEATS (DWS PAC) $3,000
  • DMFI PAC $1,000
  • DOING RIGHT - RESULTS ACTION UNITY LEADERSHIP PAC $6,000
  • DRIVE - DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN IND. VOTER ED. (PAC OF THE INT'L BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS) $5,000
  • ELECT DEMS NOW PAC $5,000
  • ELECT MORE DEMOCRATS PAC $1,000
  • END CITIZENS UNITED $6,500
  • ENGINEERS POLITICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE (EPEC)/INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS $1,500
  • ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE ACTION FUND PAC (EDAF PAC) $1,000
  • EQUALITY PAC $2,500
  • FAA MANAGERS ASSOCIATION INC. PAC $1,000
  • FAIR SHOT PAC $10K
  • FIGHT FOR FAIR LINES PAC $1,000
  • FIGHT FOR PROGRESS PAC $1,000
  • FIGHTING BACK PAC $2,000
  • FINSECA PAC $1,000
  • FLORIDA SUGAR CANE LEAGUE PAC $1,000
  • FOLEY & LARDNER POLITICAL FUND, INC. $3,000
  • FOSTERING PROGRESS PAC $1,000
  • FRIENDS OF DON BEYER $4,000
  • FUELING INDIVIDUALS RIGHTS EVERYWHERE PAC $1,000
  • FUTURE FORUM PAC $2,500
  • GIFFORDS PAC $1,000
  • GREG CASAR FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • HIMES FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • HMP $5,000
  • HMS SCRAP PAC $2,500
  • HOLLAND & KNIGHT COMMITTEE FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $1,000
  • HOPE PAC $3,000
  • HOULAPAC $2,000
  • HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN PAC $4,950
  • HUMANE WORLD ACTION FUND PAC $1,500
  • HUSKY PAC $3,000
  • IBEW LOCAL NO. 325 $125
  • IBEW PAC VOLUNTARY FUND $5,000
  • IMPACT $10K
  • INNOVATION FOR GOOD PAC $10K
  • INT'L ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL, ORNAMENTAL & REINFORCING IRON WORKERS (IPAL) $3,500
  • INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES POLITICAL ACTION TOGETHER POLITICAL COMMITTEE $5,000
  • INTL. ASSN. SHEET METAL AIR RAIL AND TRANSPORTATION WORKERS POLITICAL ACTION LEAGUE $7,500
  • INTL. ASSOC. OF FIRE FIGHTERS INTERESTED IN REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION PAC $5,000
  • INTL. ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE STRUCTURAL & ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKERS LOCAL NO 67 PAC $1,000
  • IUOE LOCAL 158 VPAF FEDERAL $3,500
  • JAKE AUCHINCLOSS FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • JEFFRIES FOR CONGRESS $4,000
  • JOBS EDUCATION AND FAMILIES FIRST JEFFPAC $10K
  • JOE MORELLE FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • JUDY CHU FOR CONGRESS $2,000
  • JULIA BROWNLEY FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • JUSTICE LEAGUE PAC $1,000
  • KATHERINE CLARK FOR CONGRESS $4,000
  • LA BAMBA PAC $10K
  • LABORERS INT'L UNION OF NORTH AMERICA (LIUNA) PAC $2,500
  • LEADING PEOPLE FORWARD PAC $1,000
  • LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS ACTION FUND $4,950
  • LIFTOFF PAC $2,000
  • LILAC PAC $3,000
  • LOBO PAC $1,000
  • LORI TRAHAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE $2,000
  • LUZ RIVAS FOR CONGRESS $2,000
  • MAC PAC $1,000
  • MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN PL OF THE INT'L ASSOC. OF MACHINISTS & AEROSPACE WORKERS $5,000
  • MAKING A DIFFERENCE PAC $3,000
  • MAKING A REAL CHANGE PAC $500
  • MARC VEASEY CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE $2,500
  • MARK KELLY FOR SENATE $2,000
  • MARYLAND ASSOCIATION FOR CONCERNED CITIZENS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $4,000
  • MAXWELL FROST FOR CONGRESS $3,000
  • MCKENZIE RIVER PAC $2,000
  • MICHIGAN MILK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $500
  • MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY GROWERS PAC $4,500
  • MIDWEST VALUES PAC $18K
  • MILK RIVER PAC $1,000
  • MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE SUGAR PAC $1,000
  • MORGAN MCGARVEY FOR CONGRESS $2,000
  • NANCY PELOSI FOR CONGRESS $4,000
  • NATIONAL ACTIVE & RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES PAC $3,000
  • NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION PAC $4,500
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS OF USA POLITICAL FUND (LETTER CARRIER POLITICAL FUND) $5,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS PAC $1,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • NATIONAL ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICINE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE/AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS $1,000
  • NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION PAC $4,500
  • NATIONAL POSTAL MAIL HANDLERS UNION PAC $1,000
  • NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION AMERICA'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE PAC $2,000
  • NATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION (NRLCA) POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN & PUBLIC EDUCATION $5,000
  • NEW DEMOCRAT COALITION ACTION FUND $7,500
  • NIKKI FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • NRDC ACTION FUND INC PAC $2,000
  • O PAC $1,500
  • OFF THE SIDELINES PAC $5,000
  • OUR FIGHT OUR FUTURE PAC $1,500
  • PAC A PUNCH $2,000
  • PAC FOR GOOD $1,000
  • PAC OF APPLES $2,000
  • PAC OF THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES $2,500
  • PAC TO THE FUTURE $10K
  • PATRIOT PAC $10K
  • PETE AGUILAR FOR CONGRESS $4,000
  • PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND INC PAC $5,000
  • POPULAR HOPE & RENEWAL PAC $250
  • PROFESSIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SPECIALISTS PAC $1,000
  • PROGRESSIVE TURNOUT PROJECT (PTP) $5,000
  • PUGET PAC $6,500
  • READY TO FIGHT PAC $1,000
  • REBUILD AMERICA PAC $5,000
  • REMEDY PAC $1,000
  • RENSSELAER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE $100
  • REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR ALL PAC $2,500
  • REVIVING AMERICAN JOBS AGAIN PAC $1,001
  • ROBERT GARCIA FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • SCHAKOWSKY FOR CONGRESS $2,000
  • SCHNEIDER FOR CONGRESS $2,000
  • SCIENCE TRUTH AND EXPERTISE MATTER PAC $2,000
  • SD PAC $10K
  • SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION) $5,000
  • SERVE AMERICA PAC $3,500
  • SERVICE FIRST PAC $1,000
  • SERVING OUR COUNTRY (SOC) PAC $3,000
  • SHARICE FOR CONGRESS $2,000
  • SHEET METAL & AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS' NATIONAL ASSOC., INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • SHONTEL BROWN FOR CONGRESS $4,000
  • SHORE PAC $6,000
  • SIERRA CLUB POLITICAL COMMITTEE $1,000
  • SILICORN VALLEY PAC $5,000
  • SOUTHEAST MILK INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $500
  • SPACESHIP EARTH PAC $3,500
  • SPIKE PAC $4,000
  • STANTON FOR CONGRESS $2,500
  • STOP GUN VIOLENCE PAC $2,500
  • STRICKLAND FOR WASHINGTON $2,000
  • SUA SPONTE PAC $5,000
  • SUGAR CANE GROWERS COOPERATIVE OF FLORIDA PAC $500
  • SUMMITT PAC $6,000
  • SUNFLOWER SEEDS PAC $1,000
  • SUNSHINE ORGANIZATION FOR TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES PAC $1,000
  • SUPPORTING HOUSE PROBLEM SOLVERS PAC $2,000
  • SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COALITION PAC $6,000
  • TAKE BACK THE HOUSE PAC $1,000
  • TEAMSTERS LOCAL 317 PAC $625
  • THE FARM CREDIT COUNCIL PAC $4,500
  • THE MADISON PAC $2,000
  • TIMBER PAC $5,000
  • TOMORROW PAC $1,000
  • TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA PAC $1,500
  • TREASURY EMPLOYEES PAC $3,000
  • TRIED-AND-TRUE PAC $5,000
  • UAW V CAP (UAW VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM) 'INT'L UNION UNITED AUTOMOBILE AEROSPACE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA UAW $5,000
  • UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION ACTIVE BALLOT CLUB $1,500
  • UNITED STEEL WORKERS PAC $5,000
  • UPLIFT PAC $2,000
  • VPP $2,500
  • WESTERN SUGAR COOPERATIVE CORP. PAC $1,000
  • WIN THE FUTURE PAC $1,000
  • WIN THE HOUSE NOW PAC $1,000
  • YINZER PAC $1,000

All filings at the FEC ↗

Praise, criticism and controversies

These sections are not covered for House candidates yet: every item in them is checked by a person before it is shown, and that review covers Senate candidates for now.

From Semblen

Semblen analyzed 11 ads from Josh Riley's campaign; 8 used at least one manipulation technique, most often Name Calling, Appeal to Prejudice, Loaded Language. See the ads, the money and every candidate in this race →

Sources

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