WPIX is claiming that multiple sources tell them that David Paterson will announce tomorrow that Kirsten Gillibrand will be appointed as the new Senator from New York, to fill the vacancy left by Hillary Clinton. This comes after yesterday’s announcement that Caroline Kennedy was withdrawing from consideration.
As one source noted, “in politics you never know,” but based on the information they have heard and shared with PIX News Governor Paterson intends to name Kirsten Gillibrand as New York’s next Senator at a noon news conference tomorrow in Albany.
So, if this actually happens (just watch it be Cuomo instead!), here are several thoughts:
* This leaves a big gaping hole to be filled by special election in NY-20, an R+3 district that has been bluening but has historical GOP advantage and not much of a Democratic bench at the legislative or county level. This could be a difficult retention in a special election.
* This potentially sets up two Democratic primaries in 2010 for the statewide races: Andrew Cuomo vs. Paterson in the governor’s race (seeing as Cuomo has the time to do so), and Gillibrand defending her seat. (Also rumored today was that Carolyn McCarthy from NY-04 threatened to challenge Gillibrand in a primary in 2010.)
* Some progressives won’t be happy to see this seat filled by a Blue Dog caucus member, and the least liberal member of the New York House delegation… although it seems likely she’ll move to the left once in office to match her new larger and more liberal constituency.
UPDATE (James): As the lead organizer of DavidNYC’s transition team, I feel it necessary to inform the public and members of the media that Mr. NYC is keeping all of his options open on the possibility of running in the 2010 and 2012 Senate primaries.
The fact that no one even bothered to run against Gillibrand in 2008, except for some rich guy with nothing better to do. If there really were any good Republican candidates in the district then you’d think one of them would have jumped into the race. Also consider what the economic situation will be like during the special election; I don’t think voters will be in the mood for Republicans.
I beat you by a good 15 minutes to this, and you used the same source I linked. I so rarely get a chance to be in the right place at the right time I’d like to get recognized on a front page diary. Some thing like, “Kudo’s to ArkDem for catching this right off the press” or something. lol.
The Times is also reporting Paterson’s choice is Gillibrand. Personally, picking the most conservative of 26 Democrats is a downer. A big downer. This seat doesn’t have to go right. Ny-20 is a tough hold right when Democrats are on the verge of eliminating Republicans at the Federal level in NY a la Massachusetts. Very sucky pick, Gov.
The big news is that Paterson’s office unloaded a bunch of dirt on Caroline. Her story, they say, is an excuse. She has problems with taxes and an employee. Sounds no worse and probably better than Tim Geithner. CNBC was ripping Geithner big time through their own reporter and a NY Times columnist labeling him incompetent, a coward, asleep on his watch, etc. Plus the taxes. Geez, Louise.
I was really hoping for Fran Dreser out of those mentioned but at least Gillibrand was my second choice.
but man have these vacancies been a pain in the ass. IL-Sen, NY-Sen (and now NY-20), AZ-Gov, even CO-Sen I’m not too sure of.
About Alexi:
in NY-20, IMO. At the local level, this is a strong Repub district.
With that, and the with the threat of a primary challenge, why the hell is Paterson going this route. There really is no reason for NY to have a senator this conservative.
KOS GOT PWNED!
Welcome Senator Gillibrand
-A New Yorker
Gillibrand because she’s a blue dog, and Paterson because he’s a schmuck. Appointing a blue dog and needlessly sacrificing a house seat.
Carl McCall gets the appointment and everybody is baffled.
Terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible choice.
I may be rushing myself a bit here, but here’s a very solid choice and chance for the first female president, in 2016. I’d probably support her in it too.
I imagine McCarthy will challenge Gillibrand from the left but the ironic thing is shes actually an ex-Republican. She actually announced, in 1996, she was challening then U.S. Rep. Dan Frisa in the GOP primary. But when the GOP showed no interest she instead ran as a Dem and won. And she didnt change her GOP registration until 2002. Assuming Wikipedia is correct..
You broke it, You Own It.
“Caroline, No“.
Let’s take a look at Gillibrand’s overall voting record, which is what really matters in this situation. Here are her 2008 scores from several liberal interest groups:
100%-NARAL/Pro-Choice America
100%-American Civil Liberties Union
95%-Americans for Democratic Action’
100%-Children’s Defense Fund
95%-League of Conservation Voters
96%-NAACP
89%-SEIU
96%-Mean Score
I wouldn’t exactly call someone with those kind of numbers a conservative…
but she never accepted the endorsement of the NRA (got an F from them) and never did their bidding like Gillibrand apparently did (as per Carolyn McCarthy).