Andrew Cuomo continues to empty out the state legislature by poaching members for his administration–and making life interesting for us political reporters in the process.
Today his press office sent out word that Upper East Side assemblyman Jonathan Bing will become the fifth New York City member of the lower house to leave his seat, Read More
Make the Road staffer Jesus Gonzalez appears to have officially entered the race to replace Darryl Towns in the 54th Assembly District after sending out an invitation to a fundraiser last night on Facebook.
Gonzalez is expected to pull support from the Working Families Party and affiliated labor groups and Make the Road’s vast social Read More
At a press conference in Washington this morning, House Speaker John Boehner downplayed the effect of Medicare on Democrats’ victory in New York’s 26th District and suggested the results had more to do with a third party spoiler and an imperfect campaign.
“You know, special elections are just that: they’re special,” Boehner said, according to the Washington Post. Read More
Long Island Congressman Steve Israel, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said there are three lessons both parties should learn from yesterday’s special election in New York’s 26th Congressional District.
“They are Medicare, Medicare, and Medicare,” Israel told ABC’s TopLine this afternoon.
All joking aside, Democrats are pushing the notion that the surprise victory of the Democratic candidate, Kathy Hochul, in such a conservative district is a bellwether for the public’s reaction to Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget plan.
Video after the jump. Read More
Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, who’s budget proposal is accused of costing his party a safe congressional seat in NY26, said, “the president and his party have decided to shamelessly distort and demagogue Medicare. So we are going to see new Mediscare reform campaign here.”
Video after the jump. Read More
From Buffalo News:
Hochul-48
Corwin-42
Davis-9
Murphy-1
The reactions:
WFP Executive Director Dan Cantor: “Tonight’s victory sends the message loud and clear to Washington: ‘Hands off our Medicare.”
DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz: ” It demonstrates that Republicans and Independent voters, along with Democrats, will reject extreme policies like ending Medicare that even Newt Gingrich called radical. “
New York Times’ Ray Hernandez: “Democrats scored an upset in one of New York’s most conservative congressional districts.”
Update: New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox denounced the ”radical scare tactics employed by the Democrats” and “divisive campaign of a self-funded spoiler.”
By now, the polls have closed and the counting is underway. It’s unclear when exactly a winner will be declared. Part of the reason is because of Jane Corwin’s court-ordered injunction on declaring a winner, and, more generally, it’s a close race and counting paper ballots is never a quick or easy process.
Most people are going with public opinion polls, which give Democrat Kathy Hochul a slight lead. Although, Times Union reporter Jimmy Vielkind is giving the edge to Corwin.
Nobody is predicting a Jack Davis upset (but my mom thinks he’ll get more than 20 percent).
Anyway, here are the predictions, made by some very brave, and smart, politicos, before the polls closed. Read More
Jane Corwin downplays the notion the NY26 race is a referendum on House Republicans. Nate Silver is starting to, slightly, lean the other way.
Video after the jump. Read More
All eyes will be on the NY26 race today, where Democrat Kathy Hochul has taken a small lead against one-time favorite, Republican Jane Corwin, with Tea Party candidate Jack Davis is still polling in double digits.
So, what are your predictions?
Email me your prediction (for example: Hochul-48, Corwin-45, Davis-2) and I’ll post them once the polls close at 9 pm tonight, next to your name or whatever it is people call you. [My email: azipaybarah at gmail]
Along with bragging rights, I’ll see if I can get the winner(s) something laying around the Observer’s office. Maybe a t-shirt, or a mug. Or an Observer book.
Update: At 4:30, catch live footage of guys who have a much better crystal ball than I do — Brian Lehrer and Nate Silver. The topic: prediction elections.
“This campaign is like an acid trip.”
–Curtis Ellis, campaign manager for Tea Party candidate Jack Davis, in an interview with PolitickerNY.
