Top 5 New York House Races 2026: Candidate Field Depth and FEC Filings

Overview: Ranking New York's 2026 House Races by Candidate Depth

New York's 2026 House elections feature 250 tracked candidates across five race categories, with 199 FEC-registered and 67 cross-platform-verified through sources like Wikidata and Ballotpedia. The party mix leans heavily Democratic at 142 candidates, compared to 49 Republicans and 59 others. OppIntell's comparative ranking methodology isolates House races with the deepest candidate fields, measured by total candidates, FEC registration rates, and source-backed profile signals. The top five districts each host at least six candidates, with several exceeding ten. These races offer the richest field for competitive-research analysis, as campaigns can examine a wider set of potential opponents and their public-record postures. The following sections detail each race's candidate composition, party balance, and source-readiness gaps that researchers would probe further.

NY-19: A Crowded Primary Field with 14 Candidates

New York's 19th Congressional District leads the state with 14 tracked candidates, including 10 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 2 others. Nine of these candidates have FEC registrations, and five are cross-platform-verified. The Democratic primary is notably large, with candidates such as Josh Riley, a former congressional aide, and several local officials. Public records show a mix of first-time and experienced filers. OppIntell's source-backed profiles indicate an average of 2.4 claims per candidate across the state, but in NY-19, several candidates exceed that average, suggesting richer public records for researchers to examine. The field depth here means campaigns would need to monitor multiple potential opponents, each with distinct donor networks and policy positions. Researchers would check state-level filings for candidates not yet FEC-registered, as four remain unregistered at the federal level.

NY-22: 12 Candidates with a Strong Republican Contingent

The 22nd District hosts 12 candidates: 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 2 others. FEC registrations cover 10 of these candidates, and 4 are cross-platform-verified. This race stands out for its balanced party split, making it a competitive general election target. Republican candidates include Brandon Williams, the incumbent, and several primary challengers. Democratic candidates feature state legislators and activists. Source-backed claims per candidate vary widely, with incumbents typically having more public records than newcomers. OppIntell's data shows that 25 candidates statewide are well-sourced (5+ claims), while 259 are thinly sourced (0 claims). In NY-22, researchers would prioritize candidates with few claims to identify gaps in their public profiles. The presence of multiple Republicans suggests a primary fight that could shape the general election message.

NY-18: 10 Candidates with a Democratic Majority

New York's 18th District has 10 tracked candidates: 7 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 1 other. Eight are FEC-registered, and 3 are cross-platform-verified. The Democratic field includes several local officeholders and a former staffer. Republican candidates are fewer but include a veteran activist. OppIntell's source-posture analysis indicates that most candidates in this race have between 1 and 3 source-backed claims, placing them in the moderately sourced category. Researchers would examine the thinly sourced candidates to assess whether their public profiles lack depth or simply have not been captured by existing sources. The district's party registration favors Democrats, but the Republican candidates could leverage national issues. Campaigns in this race would benefit from monitoring all-party filings to anticipate cross-party attacks.

NY-17: 9 Candidates with High FEC Registration

The 17th District features 9 candidates: 6 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 1 other. All 9 are FEC-registered, and 4 are cross-platform-verified, giving this race the highest registration rate among the top five. Democratic candidates include incumbents and challengers with established donor networks. Republican candidates are both first-time filers. The universal FEC registration simplifies research, as all candidates have federal filings available. However, cross-platform verification is incomplete, meaning some candidates may have state-level records not yet linked. OppIntell's methodology flags such candidates for further investigation. The district's competitive history means that any candidate's public-record posture could become a liability. Researchers would compare the source-backed claims of incumbents versus challengers to identify asymmetries in public scrutiny.

NY-20: 8 Candidates with a Mix of Experience Levels

New York's 20th District has 8 candidates: 5 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 1 other. Six are FEC-registered, and 2 are cross-platform-verified. The Democratic field includes a former mayor and a business owner, while Republican candidates are a local party official and a newcomer. The lower cross-platform verification rate (25%) suggests that many candidates have not been fully profiled on Wikidata or Ballotpedia. OppIntell's research would target these candidates for source expansion. The district leans Democratic, but the Republican candidates could attract national funding. Campaigns in NY-20 would examine the thinly sourced candidates to determine if their lack of public records is a strategic advantage or a vulnerability. The average source claims per candidate statewide is 2.4, but in this race, several candidates fall below that threshold, indicating a research gap.

Comparative Analysis: Party Balance and Source Readiness Across the Top Five

Across these five districts, the Democratic Party dominates candidate numbers (33 Democrats vs. 13 Republicans vs. 5 others), reflecting New York's partisan lean. However, the competitive districts (NY-19, NY-22) show more balanced fields. Source readiness varies: NY-17 has 100% FEC registration, while NY-20 lags at 75%. Cross-platform verification is highest in NY-17 (44%) and lowest in NY-20 (25%). OppIntell's state-level data shows 250 candidates with source-backed claims, but only 67 are cross-platform-verified, indicating a significant enrichment opportunity. Researchers would prioritize districts with low verification rates to fill gaps. The party comparison reveals that Republican candidates are slightly more likely to be FEC-registered (85% vs. 77% for Democrats), but Democratic candidates have more cross-platform verifications (30% vs. 22%). These patterns help campaigns anticipate which opponents have deeper public records to exploit.

Methodology: How OppIntell Ranks Candidate Field Depth

OppIntell's ranking uses three metrics: total tracked candidates, FEC registration rate, and cross-platform verification rate. Each district is scored on a composite index, with NY-19 and NY-22 scoring highest due to their large fields and balanced party splits. The data draws from public FEC filings, state-level records, and third-party sources like Wikidata and Ballotpedia. Source-backed claims are counted as any verifiable public record linked to a candidate. The state aggregate of 250 candidates across all race categories provides context, but this analysis isolates House races. Researchers would supplement this data with local news archives and campaign finance reports to capture candidate activity not yet reflected in structured sources. OppIntell's platform automates this enrichment, but the public-facing analysis highlights where gaps remain.

Research Gaps and Next Steps for Campaigns

Despite the depth of these fields, several gaps exist. Across New York, 259 candidates are thinly sourced (0 claims), including some in these top races. For example, NY-20 has three candidates with no source-backed claims. Campaigns would need to conduct original research on these individuals, checking local property records, business registrations, and social media. Additionally, 51 candidates statewide are not FEC-registered, meaning their federal filings may not exist yet. Researchers would monitor state-level candidate filings for early signals. The cross-platform verification gap (only 67 of 250 candidates) suggests that many candidates have not been systematically profiled. OppIntell's methodology flags these as high-priority for enrichment. Campaigns that invest in filling these gaps early gain a strategic advantage in understanding opponent vulnerabilities.

FAQ: Common Questions About New York's 2026 House Races