Democrat Paul Tonko has won a 10th term in Congress, holding onto the seat representing New York's 20th Congressional District after turning back Republican challenger Ralph Ambrosio, according to WRGB. The win extends Tonko's run in a district that covers all of Albany and Schenectady counties and portions of Saratoga, Montgomery and Rensselaer counties.
Tonko has held the House seat since 2009 and sits on the Energy and Commerce and Budget committees, according to Spectrum News. Before that, per WRGB, he spent many years in the New York State Assembly. On the campaign trail this cycle, Tonko focused on health care access, housing, clean energy, artificial intelligence regulation and opposition to Trump administration policies, the station reports.
Ambrosio, a Navy veteran who spent 23 years with the State Police and worked as a prosecutor, public defender and assistant attorney general, ran on a different set of priorities, according to Spectrum News. He campaigned on public safety, energy production, reduced government involvement in health care, artificial intelligence development and limited government, per WRGB's reporting.
Candidates Clashed Over Taxes, Energy and Spending
Ambrosio framed his candidacy around cutting taxes and regulation. “I am running for Congress in the 20th Congressional District to reduce taxes, get rid of unnecessary regulations, all of the above energy policy,” he said, according to Spectrum News. He also said that if elected, he would prioritize tracking how federal money is spent, and that he would back law enforcement while still holding officers accountable, the outlet reported. The Daily Gazette, meanwhile, noted that Ambrosio listed opportunity, safety and affordability as his core campaign priorities.
Tonko countered by pledging that affordability would remain a focus if reelected, Spectrum News reported. The two sides also diverged sharply on the cause of rising utility bills: Ambrosio argued that Tonko's climate legislation contributed to higher costs, while Tonko's campaign pointed instead to The Daily Gazette's reporting that it positioned “Trump's war with Iran as the actual driver of high energy prices,” not environmental law passed by Congress.
A Lopsided Money Race
The financial gap between the two campaigns was stark. Tonko had collected $1.2 million during the 2026 cycle compared with $61,545 raised by Ambrosio, the Daily Gazette reported. As of October 14, Tonko had $490,736 in cash on hand while Ambrosio had just $7,342 left to spend, according to the same outlet's review of campaign finance records.
The two candidates met face-to-face last month in a debate hosted at CBS6, where they discussed the economy, health care, energy policy, public safety, artificial intelligence and foreign policy, WRGB reported. It was one of the few direct exchanges in a race where Tonko entered as the heavy financial favorite.
A Repeat of 2024's Lopsided Margin
This is not the first time Tonko has coasted past a Republican challenger with a significant fundraising edge. In 2024, he defeated Republican Kevin Waltz to win his ninth term, securing 61% of the vote, according to the Daily Gazette. The current evidence does not include Tonko's 2026 vote total or margin of victory.
