NY-18 candidates Pat Ryan, Alison Esposito to face off in debate
NEW YORK (PIX11) – Democratic incumbent Rep. Pat Ryan and Republican challenger Alison Esposito will make their case for why they are the best fit to lead New York Congressional District 18 during a live debate Wednesday on PIX11 News.
NY-18 spans the mid-Hudson Valley and includes Orange County and most of Dutchess and Ulster counties. The outcome of this election could impact the balance of power in the House of Representatives.
Esposito is a retired NYPD deputy inspector and precinct commanding officer. She previously ran for the New York lieutenant governor seat alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin, who lost to Gov. Kathy Hochul in the 2022 general election. Her campaign issues include improving the economy, public safety, abortion, education, and support for veterans and seniors.
Ryan, a retired military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, was first elected to represent NY-18 in a special election in 2022. His platform priorities include help for middle-class families, fighting inflation and price-gouging, public safety, environmental protection, and “protecting foundational freedoms.”
The 60-minute debate, moderated by PIX11’s Henry Rosoff, will air live on PIX11, PIX11.com, and the PIX11+ streaming app on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. The debate will be followed exclusively on PIX11+ by a 30-minute post-debate program, which will feature an analysis of the candidates’ answers and the state of the race.
Lauren Cook is a digital journalist who has covered local news in the New York City area for over a decade. She has been with PIX11 since 2020. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter.