Moderate GOP Rep Marc Molinaro projected to lose re-election after $35M battle in heavy blow to House GOP

Democrat Josh Riley is projected to unseat first-term Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., successful a stroke to House Republicans’ hopes of keeping power implicit fractional of Congress adjacent year. 

The conflict for New York’s 19th Congressional District – spanning parts of upstate New York, the Hudson Valley and distant suburbs extracurricular New York City and Albany – was among the astir costly successful the country.

The Associated Press called Molinaro's contention successful the aboriginal hours of Wednesday morning.

Both sides and their allies spent much than $35 cardinal connected integer and TV ads, Politico reported successful September.

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Rep. Marc Molinaro's re-election bid saw him pitted against 2022 Democrat rival Josh Riley, right. (Getty Images | Josh Riley For Congress)

It was besides viewed arsenic a proxy for the nationalist conversations astir border security and abortion, 2 issues that person go governmental lightening rods successful caller elections. 

Molinaro was elected successful 2022, defeating Riley by little than 2% amid a question of suburban backlash to New York City’s progressive transgression policies.

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President Biden won Molinaro's territory successful the 2020 statesmanlike race. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

He was 1 of respective Republicans elected to a territory President Biden won successful 2020.

Riley’s run website touts him arsenic a fifth-generation upstate New Yorker who came from humble means.

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Vice President Harris' run gave respective different Democrat races an enthusiasm boost. (Screenshot/CBS News)

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His erstwhile Capitol Hill acquisition progressive moving arsenic wide counsel to erstwhile Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., connected the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Molinaro’s nonaccomplishment successful the territory besides signals peril for House Republicans crossed the board: While his contention was viewed arsenic competitive, helium was not thought to beryllium arsenic susceptible arsenic different New York Republicans with districts person to its cities.

As of AP's projection of the race, Republicans were projected to person won 184 seats compared to 156 for House Democrats.