POUGHKEEPSIE — Elected officials announced Tuesday night that former 19th Congressional District candidate Kyle Van De Water has died.
An attorney and father of four, Van De Water was 41 years old. Details concerning circumstances surrounding his death were unclear Tuesday night.
The Poughkeepsie Journal reported that Van De Water’s death comes less than two weeks after he abruptly ended a second congressional run; he previously ran against now Congressman Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck.
A Millbrook resident, Van De Water was a litigation attorney in Poughkeepsie and provided legal services to the U.S. Army Reserves, the Times Union reported when he campaigned for the House seat last year. Van De Water was an active duty member of the Army from 2006 to 2014 and was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan. He graduated from Albany Law School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
“My heart breaks for Kyle, and his beautiful family. We shared a number of conversations about family and country, and I walked away from each one knowing that he had a profound love for both,” Delgado said in a statement Tuesday.
“I know he will be immensely missed, and I’m praying for all who loved him – his friends, fellow soldiers, and family. Kyle’s death is tragically felt not only on an individual level, but also nationally, as far too many veterans across our country are going without the support and care that their service to our great land undoubtedly necessitates.”
“We can and must do better. May God rest Kyle’s soul. And may God bless his family,” the congressman’s statement said.
In July, Van De Water announced he would run again for a House seat in 2022 – but didn’t want to commit to which seat because of redistricting on the horizon.
“While I don’t yet know how the district will look, I do know that I care far too much about this district to sit on the sidelines, no matter the odds,” Van De Water said in a statement two months ago. “It would be politically expedient to wait and see how the redistricting process shapes the district, but I am not a politician. I am not doing this for myself, I am doing this for the people of NY-19 (and perhaps some from NY-18 or NY-20 as well).”
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro wrote in a statement: “My prayers are with (his family) as they attempt to come to grips with this absolute tragedy.”
“Kyle was a war hero who put his life and well-being on the line for his country. We owe him, his family, and all of our brave service men and women everything for the sacrifices they have made.
To all our service men and women who struggle upon returning home, and anyone who may be struggling with this news, please know that help is always available to you. In Dutchess County, if you are in crisis, call or text our HELPLINE at 845-485-9700, or walk-in to our 24/7 Stabilization Center at 230 North Road in Poughkeepsie.”
