{ "id": "epd4d33sw3", "slug": "peter-oberacker", "title": "Peter Oberacker", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates", "label": "US candidates for federal and statewide office", "api_url": 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"Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates", "label": "US candidates for federal and statewide office", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates", "label": "Candidates for the US House", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates.alpha-mi-to-r", "label": "Surnames Mi to R", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates.alpha-mi-to-r" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Peter Oberacker is an American Republican politician serving as a New York state senator since 2021 and the 2026 GOP nominee for New York's 19th congressional district, facing incumbent Josh Riley.", "snippet": "Peter Oberacker is an American Republican politician serving as a New York state senator since 2021 and the 2026 GOP nominee for New York's 19th congressional district, facing incumbent Josh Riley.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates.alpha-mi-to-r", "markdown": "# Peter Oberacker\n\nPeter Oberacker is an American politician and the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in [New York's 19th congressional district](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-yorks-19th-congressional-district) in the 2026 election.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) A member of the Republican Party, he has served as a New York state senator since 2021.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) He previously served on his local town board, as Town Supervisor, and as a county representative.[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) In the November 3, 2026, general election, he will face incumbent Rep. [Josh Riley](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-riley), D-N.Y.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Republican[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) |\n| Current office | New York State Senator (2021–present); 2026 Republican nominee, U.S. House, NY-19 (candidacy, not an office)[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) |\n| Previous offices | Town Board member, Town Supervisor, County Representative[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nOberacker is a Republican.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) He filed as a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in New York's 19th district in 2026.[3](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NY19268/)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nOberacker is the son of a German sausage maker and grew up working in his family's meat market in Schenevus, New York, starting at eight years old.[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) His campaign biography states that from his father he learned that \"the day doesn't end by the clock, but when the work is done,\" and that his mother, a local elected official, taught him that public service is about giving back to the community.[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) He built a career as a food scientist, leading the research and development team that created the Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich, and later founded FormTech Solutions, an international food innovation company.[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) In 2017, he moved the company's headquarters back to [Upstate New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/upstate-new-york).[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) He has served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for nearly four decades, according to his campaign.[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) He is married to his wife, Shannon, and they have two children and grandchildren.[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1)\n\n## Career\n\nOberacker began in local government, serving first on his town board, then as Town Supervisor and County Representative.[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) He has served as a New York state senator since 2021.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) According to [Fox News](https://www.edgepedia.org/fox-news), most of his work in the state Senate has focused on rural agriculture, farms, and ratepayer energy costs.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) In 2026, he filed as a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in New York's 19th district.[3](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NY19268/)\n\n## Electoral history\n\nIn June 2026, Oberacker won the Republican primary for New York's 19th congressional district, securing the GOP nomination.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) He will face incumbent Rep. Josh Riley, D-N.Y., in the general election on November 3, 2026.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) Riley won the seat in 2024, defeating Rep. Marcus Molinaro, R-N.Y., 51.1% to 48.8%.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat)\n\n## Issues specific to Oberacker\n\nOberacker received President Donald Trump's endorsement earlier in 2026.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) In his campaign, he has presented himself as a pragmatic public servant with a diverse background in business and local government.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) His campaign biography states, \"He has never created a budget that raised taxes,\" and describes his focus on \"delivering results, keeping taxes low, and standing up for the people he represents.\"[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) In a campaign video, he said, \"They say there are two things you should never see being made: laws and sausage. Well, I know both. Service has always called me.\"[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat)\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### Utility rates and energy costs\n\nOberacker has made ratepayer energy costs a focus of his state Senate work.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) He has spearheaded calls to investigate climbing utility prices and has introduced bills seeking to ban retroactive bills for businesses and to ban using taxpayer funds to cover corporate losses.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) In a Facebook post, he wrote, \"Results matter. That's why I have introduced several bills as a part of my utility ratepayer bill of rights. This legislation requires transparency and accountability from the utilities and gives power back to people — where it belongs.\"[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat)\n\n### Agriculture\n\nMuch of Oberacker's state Senate work has centered on rural agriculture and farms.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat) His background includes a career in the food industry, where he led product research and development and founded a food innovation company.[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1)\n\n### Taxes and the economy\n\nOn his campaign website, Oberacker emphasizes keeping taxes low and describes himself as believing in \"common sense, accountability, and putting people over politics.\"[2](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1) Trump's endorsement statement cited growing the economy and cutting taxes and regulations among the priorities it said Oberacker would pursue.[1](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Trump-endorsed state Sen. Peter Oberacker wins New York GOP primary race | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-voters-pick-trump-backed-nominee-battle-flip-crucial-house-seat)\n2. [Peter Oberacker For Congress – About Peter](https://www.peterforny19.com/blank-1)\n3. [FEC candidate filing, Peter Oberacker, H6NY19268](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NY19268/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US candidates for federal and statewide office › Candidates for the US House › Surnames Mi to R*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-oberacker", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-oberacker.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Peter Oberacker\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-oberacker. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Peter Oberacker](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-oberacker)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-oberacker](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-oberacker). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Peter Oberacker\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-oberacker. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Peter Oberacker is an American Republican politician serving as a New York state senator since 2021 and the 2026 GOP nominee for New York's 19th congressional district, facing incumbent Josh Riley." }