I grew up in that district. Back 20 years ago they voted reliably for liberal Republicans. Think Nelson Rockefeller.
Her family is from the area, near Moriah in Essex County if I remember correctly. My high school graduating class was 26. Small towns, kept small by state control so that the watershed can be tapped to move the water to New York City and other cities downstate. Because of state controlled zoning, the place is horribly economically depressed.
Permitted industry: Summer employment in the tourist industry, to include various summer camps and boat marinas. Winter employment in ski resorts, and state jobs removing snow from the roads. Lake Champlain freezes over in the winter, and it is a 120 miles long icy blast from Canada. Most children move away. Large 4 bedroom houses sell for 80,000$. A nasty black biting fly causes people not from there to smear camphor oils on their skin, but bites swell. After a few years most get immunity, but boy those years are miserable.
Thanks for the local insight! It sounds a bit depressing, hope things get better for them.