NY-20 Special Election

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Given that they pull in $79,500 a year, I'd be surprised to see a State Senator commit political suicide over a seat in the U.S. House.  Not exactly a good time to be looking for a new job, especially if you're a Republican in New York.

Not necessarily: all he has to do is serve his two terms, retire when the district gets dismantled after the census, wait the appropriate amount of time and rake in the lobbyist/"consultant" bucks.

[Holmes]

Democrats choose Soctt Murphy

This site has the only picture I could find, and it also has a little bio thing.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Dude's somehow come up with $200k on ActBlue already.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

This is my district, I'm simply hoping a Republican doesn't win. Please god no!

This should be the Dem slogan: Remember Sweeney!

Then you better vote in the special. 

I can't, I'm 14. I did make phone calls for Hillary during the primary though, I could do that for the Dem nominee.

Well, just see what you can do to GOTV (Get out the vote). Turnout is usually pretty low in special elections.

[Meeker]

www.scottmurphy09.com

He'd be the fourth Murphy in the House.

[Eraserhead]

www.scottmurphy09.com

He'd be the fourth Murphy in the House.

Pretty young dude. This should be interesting.

[Lunar]

Democrats still are surprisingly weak at identity politics and should have chosen a woman

Whoever it was would have had plenty of funds due to Gillibrand fundraising for her, all that really mattered was fitting the ideal biographical profile and be qualified

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

State Senator versus dude with money.  Something tells me this is going Republican.

[Lunar]

"Dude with money" actually raises the chances of a (D) retainment drastically.

A special election is not a standard election

[Brittain33]

"Dude with money" actually raises the chances of a (D) retainment drastically.

A special election is not a standard election

Yes, I'd take that over a low-key mayor or assemblyman with demonstrably less machine pull in this district. We need someone with potential upside.

[minionofmidas]

Do we have a date? When can we expect one? (as if I care... some elderly Italianate politico, unless he's far right on economic issues, is almost more appealing than this businessman... still, will be interesting to watch.)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Do we have a date? When can we expect one? (as if I care... some elderly Italianate politico, unless he's far right on economic issues, is almost more appealing than this businessman... still, will be interesting to watch.)

I saw 6th of May someplace else, but may have misread.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Paterson has to call a special election which would be 30-40 days after he calls it. Or something like that. Earliest time would be March, then.

[Mr.Phips]

State Senator versus dude with money.  Something tells me this is going Republican.

He's actually an Assemblymen.  There is a significant difference. 

[Sam Spade]

Until I see the quality of the businessman's campaign (dudes with money are usually bad politicians/campaigners, but you have to make sure first - there are certainly exceptions), I would temporarily call the race as Toss-up/Lean R or Lean R or whatever.

Tedisco isn't really your normal assemblyman - as House Minority Leader, he does get a good deal of press coverage and therefore certainly has a higher name recognition than most state legislative politicians.  I also didn't know 59 was elderly, Lewis.  I'll have to remind my mother of that. 

I also tend to believe that we are not in a good time to be nominating "wealthy venture capitalists", or whatever Mr. Murphy is, which also influences my early call slightly.

We'll see.

[Lunar]

I also think the national GOP party is hungry, really hungry, and will have more than enough matching funds and support. 

and I don't know if Kirsten will jump through the hoops for Murphy

[Sam Spade]

I also think the national GOP party is hungry, really hungry, and will have more than enough matching funds and support. 

and I don't know if Kirsten will jump through the hoops for Murphy

You know, Tedesco might not be a bad fundraiser himself (who knows?), and as I pointed out above, his name recognition is already higher than pretty much anyone else who could have run here.  So, you don't have to do as much as you might normally.

Like I said, we'll see.  I'm willing to be patient.

Though I agree - the national GOP will probably get heavily involved if needed.

[Brittain33]

Until I see the quality of the businessman's campaign (dudes with money are usually bad politicians/campaigners, but you have to make sure first - there are certainly exceptions), I would temporarily call the race as Toss-up/Lean R or Lean R or whatever.

Absolutely. The district is still what it is.

[Eraserhead]

I'm just excited that I have something else to vote for.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

"Dude with money" actually raises the chances of a (D) retainment drastically.

A special election is not a standard election

It does?  You mean to tell me that the Democratic candidate wouldn't have money no matter who they are?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

How important in politics was Gillibrand before she ran?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Going from nothing to the U.S. House is the exception, not the rule.

[Smash255]

I'm just excited that I have something else to vote for.

Where in the district are you anyway?  i always thought you were from Westchester.

[minionofmidas]

I also didn't know 59 was elderly, Lewis.  I'll have to remind my mother of that. 

That's the age my grandmother died at. And she certainly was "elderly" the few years that I knew her.

(59 is elderly for a congressional Freshman, anyhow. Of course I just judged by the picture. )

[Sam Spade]

How important in politics was Gillibrand before she ran?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirsten_Gillibrand

Not mentioned in the article is the fact that her father was one of Al D'Amato's key staff members (in addition to being a lobbyist).