NY-23 Election Takes On Outsize Importance

ALBANY, N.Y. — Democrat Bill Owens held a slim lead in a special congressional election in northern New York that grabbed national headlines in its final days as it highlighted divisions within the Republican Party.

With about 86 percent of precincts reporting in the heavily Republican 23rd House District, Owens led Tuesday with 49 percent of the vote over surprise contender Doug Hoffman, a member of the state Conservative Party, who had 45 percent.

Republican Dierdre Scozzafava, who withdrew from the race Saturday, had still picked up 6 percent of the vote.

Scozzafava abruptly quit the race over the weekend and backed Owens after some prominent Republicans accused her of being too liberal for the district because of her support of abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

The race started about five weeks ago with three candidates and is ending with two – Hoffman and Owens, who is seeking to exploit a split in Republican loyalties and recapture a seat held for decades by the GOP.

Hoffman started at a distant third and was viewed as a spoiler at best, cutting away at Scozzafava and opening the door for Owens. But prominent Republicans, including former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, endorsed Hoffman instead of the party-picked Scozzafava.

With gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, this race was not expected to become a referendum on anything, but between the Republican infighting and attempts by Democrats to portray that as a sign they could retain their majority in the 2010 midterms, Tuesday's special election took on unanticipated importance.

A Hoffman win could force Republicans in Washington to pay closer attention to their votes and positions on issues, rather than counting on the Republican label to get them elected.

"The reality is that the grass roots is not going to walk lockstep on these decisions and so that's a reality (the party is) going to have to deal with," said Tony Fabrizio, a Washington-based Republican pollster and strategist.

An Owens win could signal renewed strength among Democrats, or at least reassure them of Republicans' perceived weakness. It's a seat that has been strongly Republican for decades and is one of only three in the state's 29-seat delegation held by the party. Republican John McHugh vacated the seat in September to become Army secretary.

"They're in a civil war over the definition of their party," said Paul Blank, a Democratic consultant. "And the extremists have won."

No matter the outcome, Republicans will be sorting out their identity as the party tries to strike a balance between growing its ranks and preserving the values that set it apart from the Democratic Party.

"I think that the Republican Party is broad enough to handle many different candidates, but the fact is that I'm a commonsense Conservative Republican – I am not a radical," Hoffman said Monday. "The point is that Assemblywoman Scozzafava was not a moderate Republican; she was an ultraliberal Republican."

Comments

[bayside]

I wonder if obama got the message that a moderate centerist is the one that didnt win ,neither did the conservati­ve..

[Gretel1or2]

The MSM is bending over backwards trying to give the GOP a "victory" while trying to create an impression that those gubneratorial races in VA and NJ are an indictment of Obama. Meanwhile, they have gone completely silent on the much hyped NY23 elections - which are more telling about the state of the GOP and the destructive fracture that exists in this party.

1. NY23 is a Solidly Republican district that has not voted for a democrat in over a century. Just last year, the elections in this district went overwhelmingly to the Republican candidate (65% of the vote). This year's election results are of striking importance, given the history of this voting district. Yet the MSM is NOW downplaying it.

2. The Republican candidates who won the VA and NJ governor elections are moderate Republicans, not far right Republicans. The voter turnout in both areas was not particularly high, mostly older, White and males. Secondly, these states have had a long held historical pattern of voting for governors who are of a different party than the party currently in the WH. Therefore this result is not particularly interesting or significant, as the MSM is trying to pretend.

[Doofus]

Probably the big deal is that, with the Census next year, states will
be doing 'redistricting', and governors have a lot to say about that.
More Repo governors means more Repo congressional districts.

[Peter007]

The N.J. race was not about policy. It was about getting people to turn out and vote. It doesn't matter much in NJ if the Governor is a democrat or Republican. The courts in NJ have more power here than other states. They decide spending levels.
Corzine spent 75 million to buy himself a Senate seat. He later became disenfranchised because the Democrats were the minority in DC. He then took his Goldman Sachs money ( 60 million )and bought himself a governorship. More Power. However, Trenton N.J. is not NYC nor is it Washington DC. I think he hated hanging out with the local stooges from Paterson NJ. ( remember Lou Costello ? )Trenton night life can't compete with what Corzine is used to. I think he's glad this gig is over for him. He'll leave the state.

[NOV42008]

Oprah will have an interesting interview with Palin, her question about her book "Going Rogue", do you think it works?

[balmora]

For a staunch conservative Hoffman sure put in a very close race in a traditionally blue state. Leads me to believe that a great number of independents don't like what they're seeing in Washington these days.

[Peter007]

Independents rarely vote for the independent candidate. Go figure. Hoffman was the 3rd party guy and his numbers went from 22% to 45% in a few weeks. That says something.

[Graz]

What really says something is that people who called the GOP candidate a Rino supported a guy that didn't live in the district. Doesn't it matter something like that is a complete perversion of what a representative government is supposed to be? But to the right, true representation isn't what matters. It's all about the ideology that they want to force on others.

[Gretel1or2]

Nice spin balmora, but totally off the mark. This election was not a state election - it was a district election. This particular DISTRICT (NY23) has ALWAYS voted Republican, in other words, a solidly RED district. Last year, the elections went to the Republican candidate 65% to 34%.

The fact that it went to a Democrat sends the message that staunch Republicans AKA teabaggers are not electable. Period.

[Doofus]

In 2008, in the 23rd it was: Obama 51.8%, McCain 46.6%,
while electing a GOP Rep, 54.75% to 29%.
It is however a predominately Repo district.

But now, one with a Demo Rep in Congress.

[SCAngie]

Yes, but that was a red-repubican district( majority republican) within an overall blue state-- and the far right conservative did not win. What does that tell you-- moderate to conservative republicans may still be electable--but far right conservatives-not so much.

[NOV42008]

All eyes should be on these two states in the next 9 months, can they deliver their promise? Oh by the way, they are not allowed to use "It's Obama's fault". You ask, why only 9 months? Well I notice that some believe Barack could do it for a country, surely these two could do it for a state.

[uvymopka]

Hope and Change has come to NJ and VA

[LooktotheLeft]

Profound. Man you're wise. I can use that, right?

My god you're profound. I nearly got a rise in my levi's from such profoundwittery. You must be very special in your circle (jerk) of friends with such profoundness

[uvymopka]

After 8 years of you jerks.....­.I will enjoy the next 3. You know what they say about payback.

[NJmikeV]

The NJ State House has not changed. It is still Dem (both sides) and will keep Christie in check.

60% in exit poll said Obama "not a factor" in choice. The remainder was split pro and con. (Star Ledger) The NJ race was about the failure of Corzine.

Meanwhile the GOP lost a seat it had for over 100 years. because of meddling by Palin and the wingnuts.

How's that going rogue thing working out ?

[Peter007]

You should have noticed, that the Republican running for that house seat was a RINO. She was not a real Republican. She was more of a Democrat than the guy that won.

[justanotherday]

Should be fun for NJ gov employees for the next few months....­. waiting to see what departments are getting laid off first....a­nd $2 parkway tolls... here we come!!!

[Peter007]

Government employees never get laid off.

[justanotherday]

Right.. they just get sent home.

[ApolloniaCreed]

And you know what else... AB Stoddard TICKED ME OFF last night when she said "cousin pookie" is not going to get off the couch this time on M S N B C. No matter how offensive that statement is... she was right.

[ApolloniaCreed]

How did I post in response to the wrong article... SMH

[DJ23]

All of a sudden NY-23 is not a big deal to the MSM.

Interesting.

[k6007]

Spoils the narrative.

[jennylynn]

Two governor seats just turned republican. That is the real news.

[NJmikeV]

Here in NJ the Dems have kept both sides of the State House. This was more about the failure of Corzine than anything else.

[NJmikeV]

The GOP lost a seat that it held on to for more than 100 years because Sara and the flatearthers meddled. That is the real news, like it or not.

That's what goin' rogue will getcha. You betcha !

[rollingdivision]

A screwed up election for the Republicans from the day the local party leaders picked a very liberal Republican. Shows the value of primaries. Definitely a ding against Palin, in politics it's not a good idea to jump into fights you don't know you will win.

[SassySafrine]

GOP said this was a crucial race. They made it so. They lost.

Further, they tried to create a meme that this was a referendum on Obama. The people said no.

The GOP, once again, lacks ideas. They are losers.

[jennylynn]

You lost . That is the real news.

[Gretel1or2]

I don't recall SassySafrine running as a candidate for any of these elections.­..Sassy correct me if I'm wrong!

[mitsie]

I live in So. Jersey and I want to know what Christie is going to do about jobs? I think I'll be like the dumb voters who expected our President was going to change Washington within his first few months. Exactly what is your plan Christie, to cut property taxes which means we will lose police officers and firemen. I guess people will find out right away what your plan was for lowering property taxes.

I can hear the unemployed now, when the unemployment gets extended in Congress and Christie decides that the unemployed here don't deserve it. He is against pre-school, calls it a baby sitting service, let's see what the parents say when they have to work and their little ones get kicked out of school because he's cut that.

As far as Hoffman is concerned I wonder what he thinks of Palin's endorsement now, was it the kiss of death?

[NJmikeV]

Dems held on to the State House. Christie will be on a short leash.

60% said Obama not a factor in exit poll, with the remainder evenly split pro and con.

This election is about Corzine. It is not about Democrats or Obama.

[mitsie]

I am from Jersey and unfortunately people here are going to find out real soon what Christie is all about. He said he would start working to heal our problems today, I guess he dosen't know he dosen't get sworn in until Jan. He also needs to get away from the table and get some exercise. Too bad we don't require the health records for the governor.

[poco767c]

Why's HP so quiet this morning?

[SassySafrine]

;-)