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Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan. Photo: Cindy Schultz for The Washington Post via Getty Images.<\/strong><\/p>\n Democrat Pat Ryan on Tuesday won the special election for the U.S. House seat in New York's 19th district after it was vacated by Democrat Antonio Delgado, according to the AP.<\/p>\n Why it matters: <\/strong>The result is an upset for Republicans, who were seen as slight favorites to flip the seat. It's also validation of Democrats' strategy of hammering the issue of abortion in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned.<\/p>\n The context: <\/strong>The Hudson Valley-based 19th district has been a critical building block in Democrats' recent majorities. Delgado, who stepped down in May to serve as New York lieutenant governor, won it by 11 points in 2020, while Biden won it by 2 points.<\/p>\n The context: <\/strong>Ryan, an Iraq veteran and former business owner, previously ran for the seat in 2018, narrowly losing to Delgado in the primary.<\/p>\n What we're watching: <\/strong>Ryan shied away from the progressive label in an interview with Axios last month, noting he "increased funding to … law enforcement" as county executive.<\/p>\n What they're saying: <\/strong>Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) said Ryan's win "sends a clear message that voters are fighting back against Republicans\u2019 extreme attacks on abortion rights and their fundamental freedoms."<\/p>\n The other side: <\/strong>Michael McAdams, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told Axios: \u201cMajorities are won in November not August. We look forward to prosecuting the case against Democrats\u2019 failed one party rule that\u2019s left American families worse off.\u201d <\/p>\n\n
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