Message 117 of 5151

Democrat wins House seat in heavily GOP area in NY

By VALERIE BAUMAN, Associated Press Writer Valerie Bauman, Associated Press Writer – 11 mins ago

ALBANY, N.Y. – Democrat Bill Owens has captured the special election for a New York congressional seat that became a fight over the identity of the Republican Party.

Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Republican Dierdre Scozzafava (skoh-zuh-FAH'-vuh) in the heavily Republican 23rd congressional District in rural northern New York. Scozzafava abruptly withdrew Saturday and supported Owens.

Hoffman has conceded the race.

With 88 percent of the precincts reporting, Owens had 49 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Hoffman. Scozzafava had 6 percent.

The race has been getting national attention, with some calling it a referendum on President Barack Obama and others saying it could help Republicans focus their message to attract more people to the party.

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AzureDream's profile
Replies 1 - 10 of 14
personally, I think this win trumps the two governorship losses.......now, if only there's a win in Maine for gay marriage, it would be a triumphant day
AzureDream's profile

21 days ago
Amen Azure!
TwoSpirits's profile

21 days ago
Wish I could say, done.
GortKlaatu's profile

21 days ago
LOL! Good! Who REALLY gives a shit about governors, anyway...
Veggiebubble's profile

21 days ago
This land of ACORN fear and trepidation has been Republican since the Civil War, what a blow to Glen Beck and Michael Savage believers’ lol...

Real Americans were turned off by the drum-beat of ultra-conservative talk show mouth involvement, as well as Hoffman's admission that Glen Beck was his "mentor."
LifeLoveLaughter's profile

21 days ago
An interesting lack of perspective is being shown in the posts here . This is one congressional district . The people of two entire fairly sizable states , Virginia and New Jersey ,voted the Democrats out of power . There is absolutely no contest which one says more about the overall public sentiment now .
Dirck's profile

21 days ago
I'm so nasty. Just slammed that in the face of the conservatives on Twitter. Hoffman didn't even live in the district.

AD, I do agree that this was a more important race than the governorships. A Democrat won in a district that has been Republican forever. Crap. I hope this means that my area can unseat the Republican next election. One of the two Republican reps left in NY state.
CatsAhoy's profile

21 days ago
It has fronted republicans for 120 years. Until this election. This should be a lesson to the right wing extremist wing nuts that not all republicans buy their rigid ideological crap. From what I read, the local GOP picked their candidate they thought could win. But the right wingers fielded their own --anti gay rights, anti abortion, regressive. And up came the Southern carpet baggers and Palin to stump for him.

Ideally, the will learn a lesson by turning off and away people who had voted Republican - that they will lose solid Republicans with their extremist views. Yeah, cats. Let them field a right wing nut like they did in the 23rd and they just may lose that one, too.
GothamGal's profile

21 days ago
The New Jersey governor was a trouble in his state a year and a half ago. To have assured a Democrat win, he should have stepped aside and let someone else run. The southern and middle part of Virginia are heavily GOP. The Northern section, Fair fax county which houses any commuters to DC, a well educated and more affluent population is heavily Democrat. The demographics make it a swing state so one can't compare Virginia to a solid GOP region like the 23rd District of NY. The loss there is indicative of the how the right wing extremists have driven loyal Republicans from the party. I doubt they will learn.
GothamGal's profile

21 days ago
Well, let's also remember that the 23rd district includes Fort Drum, one of the largest military installations. I believe we are seeing a shift that is powered by the age line. President Obama was elected by millions of young voters (young=people who are younger than I) We find lots of young voters in the military, as soldiers and their dependents.
Also, did you see any live, local interviews with Mr. Hoffman? The man looked as if he were listening to voices in his ear before answering. Not very inspiring.
Wollhexe in upstate New York, 25th district
Wollhexe's profile

21 days ago
Replies 1 - 10 of 14