Public Policy Advocates

When President Barack Obama nominated U.S. Representative John McHugh (R-NY) to be the Secretary of the Army, it created a vacancy in upstate New York’s 23rd Congressional District, which has been held by the Republican party since 1993.  This race immediately grabbed the attention of several Conservative pundits and media personalities including Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.  The Republican nominee, state assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, emerged from a 7-way primary in order to earn her place on the ballot.  One of her primary opponents, businessman Doug Hoffman, later received the endorsement of the Conservative Party in order to receive a spot on the ballot.  The Democratic party selected local attorney Bill Owens after considering roughly a dozen potential candidates.

Early prognostications were that the Republican nominee would be able to retain the seat easily.  However, the conservative base of the party began defecting, instead endorsing the Conservative Party nominee, Mr. Hoffman.  Beck, Limbuagh, and Sarah Palin, among others, endorsed Mr. Hoffman.  They viewed Ms. Scozzafava’s positions on Cap and Trade legislation, Stimulus spending, and other issues, were not in line with the conservative base of the party.  Polls taken a week before Election Day showed Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Owens receiving approximately 35% support, and Ms. Scozzafava receiving approximately 20%, with 10% undecided.  On October 31, Ms. Scozzafava suspended her campaign and endorsed the Democrat, Mr. Owens, shortly thereafter.  This development made the race fairly unpredictable heading into Election day.  In the end, Mr. Owens won the race with 49% to Mr. Hoffman’s 46%.  Ms. Scozzafava, whose name remained on the ballot due to her late departure from the race, tallied 5% of the vote.