Editing Ulster County, New York (section)

==Government and politics==
{{PresHead|place=Ulster County, New York|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|39,743|57,974|1,455|New York}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|37,590|57,970|1,860|New York}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|35,239|44,597|5,454|New York}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|29,759|47,752|2,115|New York}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|33,300|54,320|1,529|New York}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|37,821|47,602|2,289|New York}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|33,447|38,162|6,628|New York}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|26,212|35,852|11,787|New York}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|29,223|32,886|18,712|New York}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|41,173|30,744|640|New York}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|47,372|26,445|285|New York}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|36,709|22,179|7,838|New York}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|35,353|30,190|610|New York}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|46,883|21,371|179|New York}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|34,798|20,886|4,703|New York}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|23,749|35,486|91|New York}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|36,418|23,017|67|New York}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|43,034|13,321|0|New York}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|36,141|15,733|171|New York}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|28,941|14,441|1,630|New York}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|26,703|16,943|117|New York}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|27,186|20,403|107|New York}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|24,678|19,118|815|New York}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|21,002|18,092|627|New York}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|25,418|14,200|1,077|New York}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|20,048|9,361|2,251|New York}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|19,001|8,759|852|New York}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|10,734|7,807|430|New York}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|7,485|8,510|3,531|New York}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|10,475|8,560|705|New York}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|11,356|9,516|501|New York}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|11,348|9,349|444|New York}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|11,100|8,140|471|New York}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|9,450|9,808|1,157|New York}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|10,825|10,487|526|New York}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|9,929|9,870|586|New York}}
|}

For most of the 20th century, Ulster County voted for the Republican nominees for president. Republicans regularly got over 60% of the vote, the high point coming when [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] won 76% in [[1956 United States presidential election in New York|1956]]. The Democratic nominee won only in [[1912 United States presidential election in New York|1912]], when [[Theodore Roosevelt]] and his [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive Party]] split the Republican vote and gave a plurality to [[Woodrow Wilson]], and in [[1964 United States presidential election in New York|1964]], when [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] won every county in New York and carried Ulster County by 19.8 percentage points.

More recently, Ulster County has voted Democratic. In [[1992 United States presidential election in New York|1992]], [[1996 United States presidential election in New York|1996]], and [[2000 United States presidential election in New York|2000]], the party won a plurality, due to strong showings from third parties. In [[2004 United States presidential election in New York|2004]], [[John Kerry]] defeated [[George W. Bush]], 54%–43%; in [[2008 United States presidential election in New York|2008]], [[Barack Obama]] defeated [[John McCain]], 61%–37%; in [[2012 United States presidential election in New York|2012]], Obama defeated [[Mitt Romney]], 60%–37%; in [[2016 United States presidential election in New York|2016]], [[Hillary Clinton]] defeated [[Donald Trump]], 52%–41%; in [[2020 United States presidential election in New York|2020]], [[Joe Biden]] defeated Trump, 60%–39%; and in [[2024 United States presidential election in New York|2024]], [[Kamala Harris]] defeated Trump, 58%–40%.

As of 2025, Ulster County is divided between 2 [[United States House of Representatives]] districts. The more populated eastern half of the county is in [[New York's 18th congressional district]], represented by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Pat Ryan (politician)|Pat Ryan]]. The less populated western half of the county is in [[New York's 19th congressional district]], represented by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Josh Riley]]. Ulster County had no U.S. representative after [[Antonio Delgado]] resigned on May 25, 2022, to become [[lieutenant governor of New York]]. Ryan won a [[2022 New York's 19th congressional district special election|special election on August 23]] against [[Marc Molinaro]], and was sworn in on September 13. Ryan ran in the 18th congressional district in the 2022 general election after redistricting put most of Ulster County in that district. Ryan was narrowly [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 18|reelected]] against New York Assembly member [[Colin Schmitt]]. Molinaro ran in the 19th district and narrowly [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 19|defeated]] Riley, before narrowly losing to Riley in a rematch in [[2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 19|2024]].

===County government===
For a long time, Ulster County had a county-scale version of a [[council-manager government]], with the county legislature hiring a county administrator to handle executive functions. The chair of the legislature had a great deal of power and was accountable only to the voters of their district. The only countywide elected officials were the [[county clerk]], [[district attorney]], and [[Sheriffs in the United States|sheriff]].

In 2006, voters approved the first-ever county [[charter]], changing to an elected executive branch. Two years later, [[Michael P. Hein]], the last appointed county administrator, became Ulster's first elected [[county executive]].<ref name="Hein win">{{cite news|last=Brooks|first=Paul|title=Hein wins big as first Ulster County executive|url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081105/NEWS/811050351|publisher=[[Ottaway Community Newspapers]]|work=[[Times-Herald Record]]|date=November 5, 2008|access-date=November 21, 2008|archive-date=June 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617044448/http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081105/NEWS/811050351|url-status=dead}}</ref> In early 2019, Hein resigned to accept Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]]'s appointment as commissioner of the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/local-news/ulster-county-executive-michael-hein-leaving-to-take-state-post/article_7e3831e4-1051-11e9-bee4-ff3fad068a1a.html|title=Ulster County Executive Michael Hein leaving to take state post|last=Doxsey|first=Patricia|date=January 4, 2019|website=Daily Freeman|language=en|access-date=February 28, 2020|archive-date=February 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228222736/https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/local-news/ulster-county-executive-michael-hein-leaving-to-take-state-post/article_7e3831e4-1051-11e9-bee4-ff3fad068a1a.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Deputy County Executive Adele Reiter succeeded him as acting county executive until a special election was held in April 2019.

On April 30, 2019, Democrat Patrick K. Ryan was elected in a special election by a margin of 74%-26%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/elections/democrat-ryan-coasts-to-victory-in-ulster-county-executive-special/article_5bd4ca8a-6bab-11e9-8ae5-4bc0ed634aac.html|title=Democrat Ryan coasts to victory in Ulster County executive special election|last=Doxsey|first=Patricia|date=April 30, 2019|website=Daily Freeman|language=en|access-date=February 28, 2020|archive-date=September 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914003650/https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/elections/democrat-ryan-coasts-to-victory-in-ulster-county-executive-special/article_5bd4ca8a-6bab-11e9-8ae5-4bc0ed634aac.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was sworn in as Ulster County's second County Executive on June 7, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/local-news/ryan-sworn-in-as-ulster-county-executive-promises-to-lead/article_15025f0e-8957-11e9-b143-83f497e6867d.html|title=Ryan sworn in as Ulster County executive, promises to lead with 'bold vision'|last=Doxsey|first=Patricia|date=June 7, 2019|website=Daily Freeman|language=en|access-date=February 28, 2020|archive-date=February 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228222733/https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/local-news/ryan-sworn-in-as-ulster-county-executive-promises-to-lead/article_15025f0e-8957-11e9-b143-83f497e6867d.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> On September 9, 2022, Ryan stepped down as county executive after winning election to the [[United States House of Representatives]], and [[Johanna Contreras]] was sworn in as an acting county executive.<ref>{{cite web |title=Congressman-elect Pat Ryan resigns as Ulster County executive; Contreras sworn in |date=September 9, 2022 |url=https://www.dailyfreeman.com/2022/09/09/congressman-elect-pat-ryan-resigns-as-ulster-county-executive-contreras-sworn-in/ |publisher=Daily Freeman |access-date=September 10, 2022}}</ref>

Democrat [[Jen Metzger]], a former New York State Senator, defeated Republican Jim Quigley in the 2022 election to replace Ryan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Ulster County Executive: Democrat Jen Metzger beats Republican Jim Quigley by significant margin |url=https://www.dailyfreeman.com/2022/11/08/ulster-county-executive-democrat-jen-metzger-beats-republican-jim-quigley-by-significant-margin/ |access-date=January 2, 2023 |website=Daily Freeman |language=en-US}}</ref> For the election, 14-year-old Hudson Rowan designed the [[Ulster County "I Voted" sticker]], which went viral for its weird design. Metzger took office in 2023.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+'''Ulster County Executives'''
! Name
! Party
! Term
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
|[[Michael P. Hein]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 1, 2009 – February 11, 2019
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| Adele Reiter
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| February 11, 2019 – June 7, 2019 (Acting)
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [[Pat Ryan (politician)|Pat Ryan]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| June 7, 2019 – September 9, 2022
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [[Johanna Contreras]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| September 9, 2022 – December 31, 2022 (Acting)
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [[Jen Metzger]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 1, 2023 – Present
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+'''Other Current Countywide Elected Officials in Ulster County'''
! Office
! Name
! Party
! Term
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| County Comptroller
| March Gallagher
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 1, 2020 – Present
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| County Sheriff
| Juan Figueroa
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 1, 2019 – Present
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| District Attorney
| Emmanuel "Manny" Nneji
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 1, 2024 – Present
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| County Clerk
| Taylor Bruck
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| August 22, 2024 – Present (Acting)
|}

Legislative authority is vested in the County Legislature, which consists of 23 members elected from individual districts, as directed by a county charter reapportionment mandate starting in late 2010.<ref name="reapportionment">[http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2011/01/17/news/doc4d3366fada7e1324007403.txt?viewmode=fullstory Ulster reapportionment panel to revamp Legislature] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318233433/http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2011/01/17/news/doc4d3366fada7e1324007403.txt?viewmode=fullstory |date=March 18, 2012 }}. DailyFreeman.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2013.</ref> Of the members of the 2024-2025 County Legislature, 14 are part of the Democratic Caucus (all 14 are affiliated with the Democratic Party), and 9 are part of the Republican Caucus (all 9 are affiliated with the Republican Party).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ '''Ulster County Legislature (2024–2025)'''
! District
! Legislator
! [[Political parties in the United States|Party]]
! Caucus
! Residence
|-
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_1.pdf]
| Aaron Levine, ''[[Majority Whip|Deputy Majority Leader]]''
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Saugerties, New York|Saugerties]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_2.pdf]
| Joe Maloney
| Republican
| Republican
| [[Saugerties (village), New York|Saugerties]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_3.pdf]
| Jason Kovacs
| Republican
| Republican
| [[Ulster, New York|Ulster]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_4.pdf]
| Eric Kitchen
| Republican
| Republican
| [[Ulster, New York|Ulster]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_5.pdf]
| Abe Uchitelle, ''[[Majority Leader]]''
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Kingston (city), New York|Kingston]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_6.pdf]
| Greg McCoullough
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Kingston (city), New York|Kingston]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_7.pdf]
| Peter Criswell, ''[[Chairman|Chair]]''
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Kingston (city), New York|Kingston]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_8.pdf]
| Joe Donaldson
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Port Ewen, New York|Port Ewen]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_9.pdf]
| Herbert Litts III
| Republican
| Republican
| [[Highland, Ulster County, New York|Highland]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_10.pdf]
| Gina Hansut
| Republican
| Republican
| [[Highland, Ulster County, New York|Highland]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_11.pdf]
| Thomas Corcoran Jr.
| Republican
| Republican
| [[Marlborough, New York|Marlborough]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_12.pdf]
| Kevin Roberts, ''[[Minority Leader]]''
| Republican
| Republican
| [[Plattekill, New York|Plattekill]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_13.pdf]
| Richard Walls
| Republican
| Republican
| [[Wallkill, Ulster County, New York|Wallkill]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_14.pdf]
| Craig Lopez, ''[[Minority Whip|Deputy Minority Leader]]''
| Republican
| Republican
| [[Pine Bush, New York|Pine Bush]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_15.pdf]
| John Gavaris
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Ellenville, New York|Ellenville]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_16.pdf]
| Debra Clinton
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Gardiner, New York|Gardiner]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_17.pdf]
| Megan Sperry, ''[[Vice Chairwoman|Vice Chair]]''
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Rifton, New York|Rifton]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_18.pdf]
| Eric Stewart
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Accord, New York|Accord]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_19.pdf]
| Manna Jo Greene
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Cottekill, New York|Cottekill]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_20.pdf]
| Limina Grace Harmon
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[New Paltz (village), New York|New Paltz]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_21.pdf]
| Chris Hewitt
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Kerhonkson, New York|Kerhonkson]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_22.pdf]
| Kathy Nolan
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Mount Tremper, New York|Mount Tremper]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Legislative-District_23.pdf]
| Jeff Collins
| Democratic
| Democratic
| [[Woodstock, New York|Woodstock]]
|}

<small>{{notelist}}</small>