TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) has thrown his support behind Dutchess County Legislator Lisa Kaul (D-Town of Poughkeepsie), in her bid to capture the Democratic nomination as she prepares to challenge incumbent New York State Senator Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie). Kaul will square off against City of Poughkeepsie Councilman Evan Menist in the Democratic Primary on June 23, 2026.
“As a true servant leader, Lisa puts others first, listening to constituents and working tirelessly to address their needs. Lisa has the courage to fight for what is right, even when facing opposition, and most importantly, she delivers results. I’m proud to endorse her in this race, Rep. Ryan said. Ryan noted his familiarity with local government, having served as the Ulster County Executive before heading to Washington.
In a room filled with supporters and several Democratic County Legislators, including Legislature Chairperson Yvette Valdés Smith and Clerk of the Legislature Julie Shiroishi, Kaul was appreciative of the endorsement and praise coming from Ryan. Shiroishi was unsuccessful in her bid to unseat Rolison four years ago and Valdés Smith experienced the same fate in her 2024 bid. Shiroishi noted that the Senate seat encompassing the 39th District has never been occupied by a Democrat. “This is a real moment for us. It is the one Senate District in the Hudson Valley that has yet to have a Democratic representative. We have been working hard to flip this seat for so many cycles, and this is the year it’s going to happen.”
“I am deeply honored to be endorsed by Congressman Pat Ryan,” said Kaul. “I have been inspired by his straightforward and fierce commitment to doing right by his constituents. He shows up, he does the work, and he delivers. Congressman Ryan’s servant leadership mirrors my commitment as a New American to giving back to the country I’m proud to call home.”
Kaul, a second-term Dutchess County Legislator and Chair of the Environment Committee, announced her campaign a month ago. “I’m running because we are at a critical moment. Working people are being crushed by rising costs. Our freedoms and basic dignity are under attack. And climate change threatens our future,” said Kaul. “I’m running because we all deserve the opportunity to thrive, not just make ends meet. To get there, we need new leadership who will fight and deliver for us.”
As the County Legislator representing District 6 (Town of Poughkeepsie), Kaul has developed working relationships with government officials at the local, county, state, and federal levels to bring needed resources to the area. After a decade of partisan impasse, Kaul worked across the aisle to obtain funds for a new waste management strategy when Senator Rolison was the Chairman of the County Legislature. Kaul was a member of the minority in her first term in the legislature, with the GOP holding 15 seats compared to the 10 occupied by Democrats. November’s elections saw the legislature flip with the Dems capturing 15 seats, limiting the Republicans to 10 districts.
In the 21 years that she’s lived in the Hudson Valley, Kaul has served on the Arlington Central School District Board of Education, organized the Poughkeepsie Women’s March Across the Hudson, and served on the board of Planned Parenthood Greater New York Action Fund. She runs a Repair Café where neighbors help each other mend things to keep them out of the landfills in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
Born in India, Kaul won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where she earned a PhD. In 2004, she and her husband moved to the US, where they raised their son. In 2008, she became an American citizen.
Senate District 39 includes parts of Dutchess (Poughkeepsie, Lagrange, Union Vale, Wappinger, Fishkill, East Fishkill, and Pawling), Putnam (Putnam Valley and Philipstown), and Orange (Newburgh and Montgomery) counties.
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