John McHugh, second from left, stands behind President Obama at signing of Weapons Systems Acquisitions Reform Act last month. (Getty)
The news of Rep.
John McHugh's nomination as Secretary of the Army by President Barack Obama Tuesday afternoon has set off a succession scramble in upstate New York, giving Democrats an opportunity to pick-off yet another Republican seat in the Northeast.
McHugh's departure will necessitate a special election much like the one conducted this past winter in New York's 20th District. Democrats eked out a hard fought win there, and think they can do the same again.
The sprawling 23rd district, which stretches along much of the state's Northern border, has a Republican registration advantage but like the rest of the region is becoming increasingly tenuous territory for the GOP. McHugh won a ninth term in November with 65 percent of the vote but Obama won 52 percent of district voters in the presidential race.
If Democrats win McHugh's seat, it will leave just two Republicans in the state's congressional delegation, further adding to the once-vibrant state party's woes.
Republicans are already playing down their chances, noting the popular president's victory in November as well as a special election win by Democrat Darrel Aubertine over a politically experienced Republican challenger for a state Senate seat in the district in Feb. 2008.
Neither party has any prospective candidate lined up yet, but the pool will likely come from members of the state legislature and local activists. Democrats had success in the 20th District race by looking outside traditional party structures to field businessman and political neophyte Scott Murphy.
The 23rd District special election will be structured the same way -- there are no primaries for special elections in New York so as in the 20th District race, the party committees in the eleven counties that make up the district will vote to elect their nominee. Democratic governor David A. Paterson is responsible for proclaiming a special election. The election date must be set between 30 and 40 days from the date of his proclamation.
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