President Obama made it official today. He nominated Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) to be secretary of the Army.

And that means only one thing, at least for political junkies: There will be a ferocious fight in New York's 23rd Congressional District to pick a successor to McHugh.

It wasn't long ago when another vacancy in New York's congressional delegation opened up. That occurred when Gov. David Paterson (D) tapped Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-20th) to succeed Hillary Clinton in the Senate in January. A solidly Republican district until Gillibrand knocked off a scandal-tarred incumbent in 2006, the GOP expected to win it back in this year's special election. But political newcomer Scott Murphy (D) edged longtime GOP state legislator Jim Tedisco in the March special.

Brian Mann of North Country Public Radio thinks Democrats have a shot here too.

The 23rd Congressional district has never been represented by a Democrat -- it's as bedrock Republican as New York gets. But Barack Obama won here in 2008 and state Democratic chair June O'Neill lives in the district. She's been steadily building a powerful grassroots machine.


Democratic state Sen. Darrel Aubertine, a popular dairy farmer, is his party's A-list candidate, but he says discussion of a run is "premature."

Republicans, meanwhile, were taken completely off-guard by Obama's announcement. Jim Wright, a veteran North Country Republican, predicted that the special election will be fierce.
"It will be a very brief, but very intense campaign," he said.

It may be a forever GOP district, but the National Republican Congressional Committee -- stung by the loss of NY 20 -- is already ratcheting up what is likely to be a political ground zero in the special election. Here's what the NRCC had to say in an e-mail message today:

Make no mistake about it, John McHugh is an incredibly qualified nominee for Secretary of the Army and he deserves a swift confirmation. With that being said, there is no doubt that White House Chief of Staff and former DCCC Chairman Rahm Emanuel was well aware of the political ramifications surrounding this selection when this plan was hatched. The party boss in the West Wing saw a political opportunity and he seized on it. Therefore, any attempts by Congressional Democrats to downplay their interest in the seat should be taken as the intellectually dishonest spin that it is.


Putting all of the political maneuvering by the White House aside, Republicans are committed to doing all we can to defend this district. John McHugh has served New York's 23rd District with honor and great distinction. To carry on Rep. McHugh's principled legacy, Republicans are committed to assemble an aggressive and winning campaign. We are optimistic that the New York Republican State Committee will nominate a strong and credible candidate who shares the interests and values of this diverse district.

The question for voters in Upstate New York is simple: Do they want a representative who will hold Democrats in Washington accountable or a Pelosi puppet who will stand idly by as Democrats continue to pile up mounting debt and higher unemployment?

Here are the facts on NY-23:

2008 Presidential Election: Obama 52/McCain47
2004 Presidential Election: Bush 51/Kerry 47
2006 Gubernatorial Election: Spitzer 63/John Faso 35
2006 Senate Election: Clinton 61/John Spencer 37

And, for you true political junkies, here's a list of the last four holders of the seat:

1993-present: John McHugh (R)
1981-1992: David O'B. Martin (R)
1965-1980: Robert McEwen (R)
1941-1964: Clarence Kilburn (R)

categories: Special Elections/Runoff Elections

4:47 - June 2, 2009

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