The calls for Anthony Weiner to resign have grown louder, with Allyson Schwartz, a top official at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, telling Politico:  “Having the respect of your constituents is fundamental for a member of Congress. In light of Anthony Weiner’s offensive behavior online, he should resign.”

But one Queens Democratic official floated the idea that Weiner may be facing pressure not to call it quits from his colleagues in neighboring districts–Queens Congressmembers Gary Ackerman, Gregory Meeks, and Joe Crowley.

In this theory, if Weiner resigns promptly, there will be a special election to replace him. This newest Congressmember will then have an uphill battle to save his or her seat in the latest round of redistricting, and will likely be pushed into a district already represented by one of those longtime legislators. The winner of the special election then would likely run as a quasi-incumbent in a primary against a sitting member of Congress, something that Ackerman, Meeks and Crowley would like to avoid.

Were Weiner to stay in office, but decide not to run for re-election in 2012, the ninth congressional district could be absorbed by its neighbors, and no one has to sweat out an awkward primary that September.

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