Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media two weeks after votes were cast, results from the Republican primary race in the 19th Congressional District are still unknown. GOP candidates Ola Hawatmeh of Pleasant Valley and Kyle Van De Water of Millbrook faced off for the Republican line last month, for the chance to challenge incumbent Democrat Antonio Delgado of Rhinebeck in November. This year’s primary election saw many more absentee ballots than any other race due to the coronavirus. The Republican congressional primary featured both in-person voting at the ballot box and absentee applications mailed to all eligible voters. The results of the GOP 19th Congressional District contest are still being tallied, state Board of Elections spokesman John Conklin said. “I don’t have any information at the state. As far as I know, each county board in that congressional district is still counting,” he said. Candidate Hawatmeh is questioning the results and how they are being counted. “Something is going on — something is not right,” she said. “I am questioning the numbers because of what my watchers saw — the people that went in and watched on the day of the absentee opening, the ballots were already opened.” Van De Water was not available for comment. Votes announced on the websites of 10 of the 11 counties in the district indicated Van De Water had an edge of 7,078 votes to Hawatmeh’s 5,669, with results unofficial, as of July 2. Delaware County would not have its votes counted until July 8, according to the county’s website. Votes were counted in Columbia County, but remain unofficial. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.