Contrary to conventional wisdom, New York’s 20th Congressional District is not as “blood red” and “heavily conservative” as most people would assume. Barack Obama narrowly defeated John McCain within the seat’s boundaries, winning solid margins in Columbia, Dutchess, and Essex Counties, as well as narrowly carrying Otsego, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties.
| Obama (D) | McCain (R) | |
| Columbia | 17,556 (55.6%) | 13,337 (42.4%) |
| Delaware | 9,462 (46.4%) | 10,524 (51.6%) |
| Dutchess | 71,060 (53.7%) | 59,628 (45.1%) |
| Essex | 10,030 (55.9%) | 7,913 (42.6%) |
| Greene | 9,850 (44.1%) | 12,059 (54.0%) |
| Otsego | 13,570 (52.0%) | 12,026 (46.0%) |
| Rensselaer | 39,753 (53.7%) | 32,840 (32.8%) |
| Saratoga | 56,645 (50.9%) | 52,855 (47.5%) |
| Warren | 16,281 (50.5%) | 15,429 (47.9%) |
| Washington | 12,741 (49.5%) | 12,533 (48.7%) |
The district still contains a fairly hefty GOP registration advantage, with 196,118 (43%) of its voting populace enrolled as Republicans and only 125,486 (26%) enrolled as Democrats, with the remaining balance unaffiliated or in third parties. But even here the GOP edge is gradually eroding; when the 20th was first drawn in 2002, there were 195,525 Republicans (45%) and 104,028 (22%) Democrats, a net gain of 21,458 Democrats and 593 Republicans over the past seven years. Folks, Democratic growth in voter enrollment is outpacing the Republicans by a ratio of 36 to 1 within the 20th District! Demographically, this is not the same district that John Sweeney or Gerald B.H. Solomon once represented.
Looking at the statistics, why on earth should we want to forfeit a Democratic-trending swing district to the likes of right-wing Republicans like John Faso, Betty Little, or Steve Saland, who stand to vote against much of the agenda that many of the district’s voters backed so passionately only two months ago?