"No Records, No Answers": Auringer Demands to Know Who Is Trying to Clear the Field for the PAT-riarchy

HUDSON VALLEY, NY, April 25, 2026 — With the New York State Supreme Court set to hear the ballot challenge case on Monday, Republican congressional candidate Jacqueline "Jackie" Auringer is demanding answers about who is behind the effort to clear the field for Pat Ryan.

"Maybe they think this is how it works — that decisions get made behind closed doors and everyone else just falls in line," Auringer said. "I've got news for them: I'm not afraid to stand up to the PAT-riarchy."

Auringer's comments come after the Ulster County Board of Elections issued a sweeping denial of a public records request tied to the petition challenge — claiming it has no records, no involvement and no responsibility.

Nothing to see here.

In its response, the Board said it does not handle federal petition objections and therefore maintains no relevant documents — while contradicting itself and also arguing the request was too broad and largely exempt from disclosure.

The request specifically sought communications involving election officials and any outside players, including campaigns, consultants, and elected officials tied to Pat Ryan, amid growing questions about what role Ryan or his supporters may have played in efforts to influence the race.

The Board produced nothing.

Compounding those concerns, the campaign is also awaiting a separate FOIL response from Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck, who has taken a leading role in advancing the objections in what Auringer described as a highly unusual and partisan manner.

Communications between the Ulster County Board of Elections Commissioner Torres and the Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck, in connection with his petition objection are not protected deliberative materials or interagency communications.

Under New York law, internal deliberations may be shielded — but communications with outside political actors are typically subject to disclosure. The Board declined to produce any such records.

So far, the public is left with a simple reality: a candidate was challenged, the race was disrupted, and the officials involved are claiming there is no record of how or why.

"'No records' is an answer," Auringer said. "It's just not a believable one. And we're appealing — because voters deserve the truth."

The Auringer campaign is appealing the denial.