A Republican candidate for Congress is challenging Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan over the schooling of his children, suggesting they attend schools in Washington, D.C., rather than in their claimed home district in suburban New York.
The GOP candidate, Jackie Auringer, who is running against Ryan in New York’s Hudson Valley for a House seat, is pushing for an inquiry into whether Ryan—or a member of his household—declared D.C. as their residence to secure free public school enrollment.
Auringer highlighted Ryan’s financial benefits from taxpayers, stating he has received over $60,000 for lodging in D.C. while also taking advantage of a $12,400 property tax exemption for veterans on his asserted primary residence in New York.
“Meanwhile, we’ve learned his family has been utilizing schools in D.C.,” Auringer noted. “The main question for D.C. officials is who claimed residency there, and were their claims correct?”
Auringer has reached out to the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, which is responsible for investigating residency issues in public schools. She mentioned that such reviews are required when there are allegations of potential fraud.
Democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has previously remarked that whether an elected leader enrolls their children in local public schools can indicate their commitment to the district.
In 2018, Ocasio-Cortez criticized her primary opponent, former Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, for sending his kids to Virginia schools instead of those in his own Queens-Brooklyn district. Crowley was residing full-time in Virginia while maintaining a home in the district.
“A Democrat who accepts corporate contributions, profits from foreclosures, doesn’t live here, and doesn’t send their kids to our schools can’t truly represent us,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a campaign video from that time.
She notably defeated Crowley, who was also chair of the Queens Democrats, in the primary that year.
The 18th District, where Ryan and Auringer are contesting, includes parts of Orange, Dutchess, and Ulster counties.
Auringer’s campaign claims to have evidence that at least one of Ryan’s children attended a D.C. public school in 2024.
According to D.C. regulations, only one residing parent is necessary for a student to be classified as a resident, which could mean Ryan’s wife, Rebecca, could legally claim D.C. residency, as noted by Auringer’s team.
Nonresident students allowed to attend D.C. schools must have a tuition agreement and pay applicable fees.
Moreover, D.C. law may impose fines or other penalties for knowingly providing false information regarding residency verification for students, which could include restitution for tuition paid and fines up to $2,000, or up to 90 days in jail.
Cases of knowingly false residency claims might also be referred to the D.C. Office of the Attorney General.
Auringer stated, “The question is straightforward: Is Pat Ryan contributing to school taxes anywhere?”
She further emphasized that, “The records are out there. The Office of the State Superintendent should investigate the residency claims and whether they were made correctly, taking necessary actions based on the facts.”
Ryan has declined to disclose whether his two sons are enrolled in schools in D.C. or in the 18th District.
A spokesperson for Ryan said, “For the safety of his family, we do not discuss the locations of his four- and seven-year-old children.”
A former Ulster County executive and Army veteran, Ryan was first elected to Congress in 2022 and is now vying for a third term.
He is seen as a strong candidate for re-election, with the Cook Political Report rating the district as “solid Democrat.”
Auringer is currently involved in her family’s construction firm, Urban Precast, where she works as a project manager and accountant.
Members of the House serve two-year terms and earn an annual salary of $174,000.
