Do you think the system is rigged in favor of corporations and the rich and against everyone else? That fundraising success in a candidate is a signal that they’ll be on the side of the big money and against the little guy when it counts, no matter what they tell you? That we need a sharp-elbowed fighter openly antagonistic to Wall Street, corporate America and members of his own party willing to play ball with those forces? That Democrats are losing not because they aren’t appealing to moderates but because they aren’t supporting bold and sweeping proposals that directly address the problems of the 99 percent? Then Jeff Beals just may be your guy.

A local town official, when asked what she thinks of the candidate, says, “She got into the race late, so she’s got a tough road ahead. She has the agricultural community on her side. She’s young and female. Those are all good.”

His weekends include shuttling among forums, meet-and-greets, and festivals where he can chat with voters. On weekdays, he goes to meetings with local Democratic committees and groups representing specific issues such as opioid recovery or Medicare for all. “This Tuesday, we hit meetings in all five counties,” Flynn says.

Ryan believes his profile as a U.S. Military Academy graduate, combat veteran and Kingston native with deep roots in his hometown is the right mix to present progressive ideas, like single-payer healthcare and an assault weapons ban, to a largely rural district split near-evenly between Republicans, Democrats and non-party-enrolled voters.

Gareth Rhodes recently completed his Winnebago trip to all 163 towns in the NY-19. The Ulster County native and former Cuomo aide shares many positions with his competitors for the Democratic nomination. What makes Rhodes different is he spends just as much time talking about local issues that don’t map neatly on to the left vs. right divide, including the lack of a maternity ward in three counties in this district, dealing with falling numbers of volunteer EMTs and firemen and fixing sidewalks damaged by snow plows.

NY-19 candidate Dave Clegg says he is “one person removed from just about everyone I meet.” He’s been a Hudson Valley resident for 36 years, and he’s hoping those local connections are enough in a race against better-financed and more polished opponents who have spent little of their adult lives living and working in the district.