DELHI - Media access to the Delaware County Republican Committee’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner shifted this year, with a reporter for The Reporter denied entry to the May 1 event at the American Legion Hall in Delhi, despite previous coverage of the gathering in prior years.
The reporter arrived shortly after the 5 p.m. start and was asked to leave by GOP Committee Chairperson Josh Morgan after the reporter briefly spoke with attendees County Clerk Haley Gransbury and former Delaware County Republican Committee Chairperson and current Walton Republican Committee member Katherine “Katie” Taggart, inside. The removal marked a departure from past practice based on prior coverage by The Reporter in which the newspaper had been permitted to cover the event.
Outside the venue, Morgan asked who had invited the reporter and said he did not want media coverage.
The reporter responded that the event had been publicly advertised and that media had not previously needed an invitation to attend. The reporter also offered to purchase a ticket if required. Morgan declined.
“We do not. No. I did not invite any media,” Morgan said when asked to confirm the decision.
When asked whether candidates speaking at the event might want coverage of their remarks, Morgan said, “You can wait for them outside.”
“After what The Reporter has put this committee through and its members and their personal lives, we do not want them here,” Taggart stated, without offering context or explanation for her statement.
The decision effectively limited access to remarks from candidates appearing at the event, several of whom are running in upcoming elections.
The reporter remained outside the venue for a little more than an hour in cold, rainy conditions. About 20 minutes after being asked to leave, Morgan came out to the parking lot and said he was trying to repair the relationship between the committee and The Reporter. He said he would try to allow entry if the reporter would promise favorable coverage. The reporter responded she could only commit to covering the event. Morgan then returned inside.
The Reporter spoke briefly with Senator Peter Oberacker as he arrived. Asked about his campaign for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 19th Congressional District, Oberacker said, “It’s intense. It’s thrilling. It’s frustrating. It’s all those things all the time, but it’s going good.”
Asked why he decided to seek higher office, Oberacker said, “Five grandkids,” adding that he hopes to preserve for them the quality of life he currently enjoys.
New York Assembly Representative Chris Tague, now a candidate for the New York State Senate District 51 seat, also spoke briefly while entering the event. Tague said he was first asked to run for the Senate seat shortly after taking office in the Assembly but declined at the time, saying he felt an obligation to the constituents who had elected him. He said circumstances have since changed and that he was willing to step forward after Oberacker announced he would not seek reelection to the Senate seat.
Tague elaborated on the rationale for his run.
“I’ve been a huge voice for rural upstate New York,” said Tague “and that’s what we need in the Senate.”
He said he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Senators Cook, Seward and Oberacker.
Social media (Facebook) posts from the Mountain Eagle reveal that other media were present at the event, though the Delaware County Republican Committee did not clarify whether access was selectively granted.
Requests for comment were sent to Morgan, individually, and the Delaware County Republican Committee seeking clarification on media access policies, whether the event was considered private, and why access was denied. After multiple requests for comment, an unsigned response from the committee email address stated, “No comment.” Morgan did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
There is no single rule governing media access to party-sponsored political events, but decisions about who is allowed inside can shape what voters ultimately hear from the candidates.
