Politico is reporting that Obama is naming Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) from New York’s 23d Congressional District to be Secretary of the Army. (http://www.politico.com/politico44/)
The 23d district is often discussed in the many redistricting diaries for New York. The district barely voted for Obama but as far as I know is traditionally Republican, so I think there would be some obviously parallels to a special election in McHugh’s district with the one in NY-20 a few months back.
My hunch would be a Republican would be slightly favored, but that was the conventional wisdon in NY-20 initially as well. Here’s hoping we can find another Scott Murphy!
Anyone know what the Dem bench is like in the 23d? The Republican bench?
*MSNBC just announced it as well
Looks like New York’s getting quite a lot of political attention during the coming election cycle.
As for that comparison to NY-20, I’m interested to see who the parties will put up before I can declare it even being close to what NY-20 ended up being.
to eliminate NY-23 in redistricting, as the replacement will have minimal seniority.
But the Democrats’ control of New York is in peril if Paterson is the nominee, and for whatever reason, Cuomo says he isn’t running. If Paterson is on the ballot, it sure looks like we’ll lose. Come on…someone!
The NRCC will be further drained of precious resources playing defense in one of their few remaining Northeastern seats for fear of being labeled entirely extinct in the region. Meanwhile, our side royally low balls expectations, noting how this is one of the most heavily Republican districts in the state.
I continue to be dazzled by this President’s political acumen.
And for what its worth knock on wood, Ben Smith’s take is that “at this point, the odds in a special election have to be on the Democrat”. http://www.politico.com/blogs/…