Republican drops bid to challenge Rep. Delgado
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> A retired two-star general from Oneonta has dropped out of the race for New York’s 19th Congressional District seat, which currently is held by Democrat Antonio Delgado.
“To all who have supported my campaign over the last few months, I regret to inform you that I am withdrawing my candidacy in the 19th Congressional District of New York,” Tony German said in a prepared statement. “It has truly been a pleasure meeting with you, speaking with you and working with you in our efforts to get Washington back to work serving the American people.”
A lifelong Republican, German announced his campaign in August 2019. He is a retired general and former adjutant general of the
New York National Guard, and he is a graduate of SUNY Oneonta and the Naval War College.
Delgado, of Rhinebeck, is serving his first two-year term in the House.
Two other Republicans have announced their candidacies for the 19th Congressional District seat: Ola Hawatmeh, a fashion designer and two-time breast cancer survivor from Poughkeepsie; and Mike Roth, an Ellenville resident and Brooklyn College graduate.
In his statement, German threw his support behind Hawatmeh, calling her “a good friend and strong candidate.”
“She is an outsider with a powerful message, and I will be fully supporting her while she continues her campaign,” German said. “I encourage you to support her efforts just as much as you have mine.”