Pat Ryan's Unconventional Campaign Speech
On the night before he was first elected to Congress in August 2022, Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, flanked by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and other campaign supporters, was delivering the final speech of his campaign.
His address was very different than what he might have imagined it would be a few months earlier.
Ryan — a Democrat who graduated from West Point and served two tours of duty in Iraq — stood in front of a wall-sized American flag in a room often used for weddings and corporate dinners and talked mostly about abortion rights.
He spoke of "fundamental freedoms and rights being ripped away," adding "control over (women's) lives and bodies have been ripped away."
"Some of the biggest threats in our country's history are coming from right here at home," he warned.
Ryan's special election victory in a closely divided U.S. House district in the Hudson Valley region of New York was the first competitive federal election in the U.S. after the June 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
He shifted his entire campaign strategy, both in TV ads and speeches, to emphasize his opposition to the court's decision, ultimately securing enough votes to defeat a strong Republican opponent and claim victory.
Looking ahead to the 2024 elections, Ryan, aiming for reelection in his politically diverse district in New York, is placing a strong focus on ensuring abortion access.
Speaking from his congressional district nestled in the mountains near the Hudson River in Gardiner, New York, Ryan expressed to CBS News that women's reproductive rights will be at the forefront of his campaign. "It will feature in my speeches, TV ads, campaign mailings, and every interaction as I canvas the area and make phone calls."
"Our entire campaign is centered around the idea of expanding freedoms," he affirmed. The control of the House rests on New York, a state with few genuinely moderate, swing districts, with several pivotal races still in play. The upcoming battles are well-funded and prepared for a fierce contest.
It seems that the focal point of this particular political battleground will be women's reproductive rights, with both parties gearing up for a heated debate.
A "branding problem"
Republican campaign leaders are advising their House members, both incumbents and challengers, not to concede the discussion on abortion and reproductive rights to the Democrats.
This approach comes after the end of Roe v. Wade posed a massive political challenge for the GOP during the 2022 midterms. House Republicans struggled to find a cohesive way to respond to the end of decades of federal abortion protections, and hopes of a red wave that cycle were dashed as the GOP won only a narrow majority in what had been viewed before the Supreme Court's decision as a favorable environment for the party.
Republicans are now attempting to avoid making the same mistake again.
Rep. Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Republican who now chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and is helping lead an effort to win seats in New York, told CBS News, "Republicans have a 'branding problem' on abortion, not a policy problem. Most voters think Republicans' position is a very narrow, extreme position, which it is not. There is no one Republican position. A lot of candidates have a lot of different positions, from states' rights to reasonable limits."
"I'm just telling my candidates and members, 'Talk about what you believe. Don't let them define you.'"
A Republican Party official told CBS News, the national campaign committee circulated a memo earlier this year to advise candidates on how best to argue and prepare to campaign on the issue.
New York Republicans already had plans to do so.
Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, a first-term Republican from Long Island, told CBS News, "I bucked my own party to stop legislation that would have curtailed access to mifepristone, and I have made clear that I will reject any push to pass a nationwide abortion ban at the federal level."
D'Esposito and Rep. Marc Molinaro, a first-term Republican from the Catskills were the first Republican House members to co-sponsor a Democrat's proposal to codify federal protections for in vitro fertilization.
The legislation became a rallying point for Democrats after a controversial court ruling by a state court in Alabama briefly interrupted IVF services for women in the state. Molinaro and D'Esposito made headlines in their hometown media by supporting the bill.
Molinaro told CBS News, "I heard it from my constituents. I know personally the value and the importance of making sure IVF is available to anyone who wishes to grow their family. I think it's a very special thing."
A third New York Republican in the House, Rep. Mike Lawler of Westchester County, officially joined as a co-sponsor of the bill earlier this month.
Alison Esposito, a Republican seeking to defeat Rep. Ryan in November, has splashed a lengthy statement about abortion prominently on her campaign website. Esposito, a veteran New York Police Department commander from Orange County, told CBS News, "Like most Americans, I believe in reasonable exceptions like rape, incest, and the life of the mother."
I am a firm believer in empowering women and babies, and providing them with the necessary support throughout all stages of pregnancy. It is crucial to ensure that they have access to a wide range of options, including financial resources, healthcare resources, and emotional support," Esposito emphasized.
"Speaking From Both Sides of His Mouth"
According to several New York Democrats who spoke to CBS News, Republicans are taking a more aggressive stance on the issue of abortion in the current election cycle. Ryan accused Esposito and the Republicans of creating confusion with their stance on women's reproductive rights.
"The American people will see through the deception," Ryan stated.
Laura Gillen, a Democrat and former town supervisor in Hempstead, New York, is challenging D'Esposito in an attempt to unseat him, particularly focusing on his abortion policies.
"D'Esposito tried to have it both ways when he claimed he would not support a national abortion ban," Gillen criticized. "However, his actions since taking office show his support for federal regulations that limit women's access to reproductive healthcare."
Democrats Emphasize Abortion Rights Strategy
Highlighting abortion rights as a key issue, Democrats saw success in February with the election of Democrat Tom Suozzi in a special House election on Long Island. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ran ads targeting Suozzi's Republican challenger, Mazi Pilip, emphasizing the threat to reproductive rights posed by the Republican Party.
A memo released on April 5 by the DCCC discussed the importance of ballot initiatives supporting abortion rights and recent court decisions restricting these rights in states like Arizona and Florida.
The memo stated, "Reproductive freedom will continue to be a significant concern for voters in the upcoming November elections, holding House Republicans and GOP candidates accountable for their anti-abortion stances."
Democrat Josh Riley, running in the House district representing the southern tier of New York and Catskills, has also made abortion rights a central focus of his campaign.
Riley emphasized, "Voters are eager to protect Roe v. Wade and support pro-choice candidates. As a pro-choice advocate, I aim to address the concerns of voters who are worried about the erosion of our freedoms by the current Republican Congress."
New York Congressional Races Heating Up with Fundraising
Federal campaign finance filings through the end of March reveal a significant influx of funds in New York congressional races, shaping up to be crucial in determining the control of the House.
Lawler has taken the lead in fundraising over his Democratic opponent in NY-17, while D'Esposito holds a cash advantage in NY-04. Meanwhile, Riley in NY-19 boasts both substantial fundraising and cash-on-hand advantages over incumbent Republican Molinaro.
External groups' spending will also play a critical role in these races. House Majority PAC, a key Democratic campaign spender, plans to allocate at least $18 million towards New York congressional races, according to AdImpact data.
Molinaro, a seasoned Dutchess County executive, faces a challenge from Riley, positioning himself as a unifier in a politically charged House. He highlights his advocacy for federal IVF protections as a symbol of bipartisanship and representation for his diverse district.
In an interview with CBS News, Molinaro emphasized the importance of unity on the issue of IVF, stating, "There is consensus on IVF. And I hope by taking the lead and showing that it's important to establish this protection, others will follow."
Molinaro has previously felt the impact of divisive politics, having lost a special election to Ryan in August 2022, centered around women's reproductive rights.
