Democrats have picked off a heavily Republican upstate New York congressional seat in a special election that became a referendum on Medicare.
Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul (HOH’-kuhl) edged past Republican state Assemblywoman Jane Corwin on Tuesday to win the seat in the 26th Congressional District.
The rural-suburban district between Buffalo and Rochester is one of the state’s most conservative. But Corwin saw her early lead dissolve after coming out in favor of a Republican budget plan that would cut billions from Medicare, the government health plan for seniors.
A third candidate, tea party contender Jack Davis, also siphoned votes away from Corwin.
The seat became vacant in February when Republican Rep. Chris Lee resigned after shirtless photos he sent to a woman surfaced online.
(Source: NBC New York)
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3 Responses
Its weird that you have a democrat running as a TEA party ticket.
This was a solid Republican district. The “nut” running as a “tea party” candidate had been clearly exposed as a liberal Democrat running as a nuisance. Comparing the districts results to earlier elections, it appears very clear that in that district there has been a major shift to the left – suggesting that the pro-frugality movement that led to the Republicans gain in the 2010 Congressional elections is over, which is ominous for the Republicans going into the 2012 campaign.
To paraphrase Clinton’s well known 1992 banner…”It’s the Medicare Issue, Stupid” The GOP is nose diving into an issue that has the potential of reversing their 2010 gains. Gee