Tonya Pulver has confirmed she is running for the Dutchess County Legislature’s District 19 seat, which her husband, Gregg, held for a decade before being unseated in November 2023. The district encompasses Milan, Millerton, North East, Pine Plains, Red Hook, and Stanford.
“My big experience with politics, my mother was on the Town Board for — I’m just guessing — I think it was close to 15 years in Pine Plains,” Pulver told the Herald. “My husband was then on the school board, the Town Board, multiple boards in the county and then County Legislator as well. So I’ve kind of lived this life since I was born.”
Pulver, who has worked in the Millbrook Central School District for more than two decades, including as a school psychologist, was raised in Pine Plains and has lived in the community her entire life. She is running as a Republican and collecting signatures to appear on the ballot.
“Tonya was prepared for her interview and answered all of our questions to my committee’s satisfaction,” said Don Minichino, chairman of the Dutchess County Conservative Party, which endorsed Pulver on March 8. “Mrs. Pulver also has name recognition which plays a big part when running for political office and she will serve her constituents and the county well.”
While Pulver has never held elected office, she said that now felt like the right time to enter the political arena. “I’ve actually been thinking about giving back to my community for quite a few years and I decided that this was actually a perfect time,” she said. “I have a little bit of extra time in my life, and it’s something worth trying.”
As for her campaign priorities, Pulver said she intends to go door-to-door, listening to residents and learning what issues matter to them. “I’m personally passionate about mental health,” she said. “Obviously, that’s what I do for a living.”
Pulver aims to unseat Democrat Chris Drago, who defeated her husband in 2023. Gregg Pulver served 12 years as Pine Plains Town Supervisor and 10 years in the Dutchess County Legislature — six of those as chairman. After losing to Drago, Gregg Pulver was appointed Dutchess County Comptroller. He made an unsuccessful bid to keep that office in the November 2024 election, then was appointed Assistant County Executive in December.
In a March 12 email, Drago criticized Tonya Pulver’s entry into the race, framing it as an effort by the couple to consolidate political power. “Dutchess County taxpayers deserve leaders who represent our interests — not an administration where insiders and their spouses consolidate power, repeatedly get appointed positions after losing elections, and raise their own pay,” Drago wrote.
The election will take place on Nov. 4, 2025.