One of the most competitive and closely watched congressional races this year is in the Hudson Valley, where moderate Republican Rep. Mike Lawler is facing an up-and-coming Democratic rival, Cait Conley, in a race that could determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives next year. The region is also a battleground in statewide races and could prove pivotal in determining whether Gov. Kathy Hochul is able to secure another four years in office. Further to the left on the political spectrum, the Democratic Socialists of America have been making inroads in the area, creating new bastions beyond their strongholds in Brooklyn and Queens.
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While those political dynamics have garnered attention across New York and even nationwide, they aren’t the only big things happening in the Hudson Valley. Local leaders are busy spurring economic growth, expanding access to higher learning, creating affordable housing, upgrading key infrastructure and providing a range of services for those most in need. City & State’s Hudson Valley Trailblazers list puts a spotlight on a selection of influential figures who are active across a seven-county region, including Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties.
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