New York will go to polls on August 23, the second time this year. The upcoming primary elections will majorly focus on Congressional races after district lines were redrawn in the heavily Democratic state. In addition to the conventional contests, two special elections are also being organised in New York.

New York’s political system has experienced numerous major shake-ups in the last two years, starting from the city council all the way up to the governor’s office. This reorganisation triggered special elections.

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19th Congressional district

Democratic lawmaker Antonio Delgado was roped in as the New York lieutenant governor after Brian Benjamin’s resignation. Delgado’s appointment left the 19th Congressional district vacant. 

A cross-party contest will be seen in Tuesday’s elections. Republican Marc Molinaro will face off against Democrat Pat Ryan. While the special election is to decide who takes the office till January 2023, Molinaro will run for the full term in November. 

Pat Ryan, an Ulster County executive, will however run for the 18th Congressional district in the November elections. The winner of the 19th district will have the advantage of running as an incumbent in the midterm general elections.

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23rd Congressional district

The second special election in New York will be held in the 23rd district, which was previously under the leadership of a Republican lawmaker. The election is being held to fill the Congressional office for Tom Reed’s remaining term. Reed left Congress earlier this year in May.

The seat is being contested by Joe Sempolinski, a former Republican and former Congressional aide who is likely to win. Sempolinski, however, is not contesting the general elections for the 23rd district, leaving space for the Republican primary winner of the race between Paladino and Langworthy.