“Upstate New Yorkers elected Congressman Antonio Delgado because they knew he would work across the aisle in order to deliver real results. Antonio’s record proves that and more: 45 town halls, 300 in-district events and three bills signed by President Trump into law all in his first 19 months in Congress. Antonio takes seriously his responsibility to be accessible to his constituents and works tirelessly to deliver on their behalf. I have seen the enormous good Antonio has done for his community, and I look forward to continuing our shared work on behalf of everyday Americans.” —DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos
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To: Interested Parties
From: Christine Bennett, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: July 15, 2020
Subject: The Case for Antonio Delgado
Praised as one of the most active freshman in Congress, Rep. Antonio Delgado works with local, state, and federal leaders — regardless of party — to get results for the people of Upstate New York. Having held 45 town halls this Congress including 11 (one in each county in the district) in his first 11 weeks in office across the sprawling district which covers 8,000 square miles, Rep. Delgado has built a strong, independent brand rooted in accountability, transparency, and accessibility. He has earned many accolades including two awards from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The Spirit of Enterprise Award for his legislative work promoting business and commonsense governing over the past year and the Chamber’s inaugural Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship. He is ranked among the top 10% of bipartisan members in Congress.
Born and raised in Schenectady, the values Delgado learned growing up: hard work, character, and service inform the work he does every day in Congress. From improving access to quality, affordable health care to expanding rural broadband to increasing funds for farmers and small businesses, Rep. Delgado is committed to working across the aisle and standing up for what his district needs.
Representing the 8th most rural district in the country, Rep. Delgado has completed 26 farm tours to fully understand and appreciate the needs of his constituents and has hosted more than 300 events across the district focused on hearing from community members from panels on the opioid crisis to a veterans resource fair to workshops for small business owners.
Recognized as one of the most active Members of Congress, Rep. Delgado led on and introduced 37 bills, 22 of which are bipartisan. Three of Rep. Delgado’s bills have already been signed by the President including a bipartisan bill to aid family farms during downturns in the agriculture economy.
Rep. Delgado has worked with Republicans and Democrats to help Upstate New York during the coronavirus epidemic. Rep. Delgado led efforts to ensure that assistance for small and mid-sized farmers was included in the stimulus package. He has also held weekly telephone town halls, convened meetings of his small business, health care, veterans, and agriculture advisory committees to hear directly from community leaders.
And after running on making health care more affordable, Delgado has fought to lower the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs and introduced a bill that would create a public option, enabling anyone to buy into Medicare while also allowing folks who are happy with their current private insurance to keep it. Recently, Delgado has championed the fight for crucial Covid-19 relief funding for rural cities and towns, just like the ones he represents in Upstate New York.
Rep. Delgado also worked to cut taxes for the middle class by introducing a bill that would allow 1.7 million self-employed individuals in New York deduct their health care premiums as a business deduction would save each an average of $750 a year. The bill especially would help farmers in the 19th District.
Referred to as House Republicans’ biggest recruitment flop, the GOP nomination in New York’s 19th Congressional District amplifies Washington Republicans’ failure to recruit and run a credible candidate in this seat, cementing Rep. Antonio Delgado’s strong prospects for re-election.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
HEADLINE: Delgado’s Family-Farm Bill Signed By President Trump [AllOstego.com, 8/25/2019]
HEADLINE: First-term U.S. Rep. Delgado Puts Emphasis on Town Hall Sessions in Sprawling District [Daily Freeman, 2/20/2020]
HEADLINE: Rep. Antonio Delgado Awarded Accolade Highlighting Bipartisanship [WKTV, 6/11/2020]
HEADLINE: The Rebuild Rural America Act Would Provide Federal Funding To Meet Hudson Valley Challenges [Hudson Valley Magazine]
HEADLINE: Delgado Puts Focus On Small Business, Farm Relief From Coronavirus Shutdown [Hudson Valley 360, 3/20/2020]
Editorial: Delgado Is Promoting Broadband And Fairness [Record Online, 9/23/2019]
“Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, is promoting two bills that would help his constituents compete in the modern business world, stay engaged in the academic world and in general be better informed.”
“That alone will not get him the votes he needs in his quest to win a second term. But it should show those who voted for him and some of those who did not that in just his first year in Congress he has found ways to promote legislation with bipartisan appeal, as well as nationwide appeal, that would help both his constituents and everyone else.”
EDITORIAL: Change In Attitudes Not Enough By Itself [Record Online, 6/9/2020]
In this region, no voice is more eloquent, more compelling than that of Rep. Antonio Delgado, the Democrat from Rhinebeck who is in his first term representing the 19th District in the House of Representatives.
During this first term, Delgado has made a mockery of those race-baiters, holding dozens of town hall meetings, providing a full array of constituent services, advocating for the farmers and small business owners and workers who make up the district.
He has a message that resonates throughout the district and that points the way across the nation as well.
HEADLINE: Coronavirus Relief Package Has Rep. Delgado’s Help For Small Farms [WAMC, 4/23/2020]
Democratic Congressman Delgado of the 19th District says the package contains a clarification that will allow small farmers access to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Grants. Delgado led 86 members on both sides of the aisle in calling for this change.
HEADLINE: Delgado Recognized As Active New Congress Member [The River Reporter, 9/4/2020]
“Delgado introduced 11 bills between January and July. To date, the congressman has introduced and co-led 16 bills. The report also recognized Delgado for being one of just six House freshman from either party to have legislation pass in both the House and Senate. Since the report’s release, Delgado’s bill, the Family Farmer Relief Act, was signed into law by President Donald Trump.”
HEADLINE: House Republicans’ Biggest Recruitment Flop [Politico, 4/3/2020]
THE EMPIRE STATE — The filing deadline in New York state closed Thursday, bringing a disappointing end to House Republicans’ long search to find a candidate to take on Rep. Antonio Delgado. The freshman Democrat ousted GOP Rep. John Faso by 5 points in one of the most competitive House races of the midterms but now this Hudson Valley seat likely represents the NRCC’s biggest recruitment flop anywhere in the country.
PATH TO VICTORY
This Upstate New York seat is a true swing district, voting for President Obama twice before Donald Trump, and electing numerous Democrats at the federal level including Senators Gillibrand and Schumer who both easily carried the district in 2016 and 2018 respectively.
Antonio Delgado is in excellent position to win re-election. Rep. Delgado’s priorities of affordable health care, fighting for good-paying jobs and bringing economic development to Upstate New York resonate deeply in this community. Keeping his promise and honoring his commitment to his community, Rep. Delgado has hosted 45 town halls, 300 in-district events and meets regularly with various advisory committees.
Rep. Delgado has an impressive re-election campaign with the resources necessary to win, with over $3 million in his war chest.
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