Carolyn Maloney | The New York Observer

Saujani Says She's Going to Challenge Maloney

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:23:49 -0500

It’s official. Reshma Saujani, the former HillPAC lawyer who raised $1 million for John Kerry in 2004, is going to run in a primary against Rep. Carolyn Maloney in Manhattan. Last month I wrote about how Saujani was preparing to run, but didn't get her to talk.

In an email sent to supporters at 11:31 a.m., Saujani said she's going to do it. “It is critical to the future of the campaign that we raise...

Hillary Lawyer Reshma Saujani to Challenge Maloney?

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:35:21 -0400

Multiple sources have said former HillPac lawyer Reshma Saujani is considering a primary challenge to Representative Carolyn Maloney, the Manhattan Democrat who threatened to run for Senate earlier this year.

Saujani has a compelling biography for a candidate.

She’s the daughter of immigrants who fled from violence in Uganda, and has degrees from Harvard and Yale.

Saujani reportedly interned in the White House at the same time as Monica Lewinsky.

By the age of 28, Saujani had established...

The Swift, Brutal Primary Strategy of Kirsten Gillibrand

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0400

Earlier this month, Kirsten Gillibrand stood in front of the steps of City Hall to accept the endorsements of two more members of Congress and repeated her standard response to all inquiries related to her facing a potential primary challenge. "For my part, I am very focused on being the best senator I can be," Gillibrand told The Observer. "And I really do leave the politics to themselves. I think they will take care of...

Lots of Counties for Gillibrand, But Brooklyn Still Won't Take Her Calls

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:44:00 -0400

ALBANY—Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign announced today she had been endorsed by the leaders of 52 of the 62 Democratic county leaders in New York. Among the holdouts: the chairmen of all five boroughs of New York City. I found Assemblyman Vito Lopez, also chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, on the floor of the chamber and asked him what he was waiting for. "I initially supported Caroline Kennedy, and then when Caroline withdrew and the governor...

The Year of the Senate Primary

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:57:00 -0400

Since 1980, there have been just eight serious primary campaigns mounted against incumbent U.S. senators (five of which succeeded and three of which didn’t). But next year alone, we could be looking at as many as six. The incumbents most vulnerable to serious intraparty competition in 2010 include four Democrats—Kirsten Gillibrand in New York, Chris Dodd in Connecticut, Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania and Roland Burris in Illinois—and two Republicans, Kentucky’s Jim Bunning and Arizona’s...

If Maloney Runs, Who Replaces Her?

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:20:00 -0400

Say what you want about her chances, but Carolyn Maloney is still acting like someone who actually means to challenge Kirsten Gillibrand for Senate next year. She'd have to give up her House seat to do so. (Which is actually quite a good reason to believe that, at the end of the day, she won't run for Senate, and that this will all have been more about David Paterson's decision to pass her over for...

Isay Supports Maloney, But Not in a Paid Way

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:36:00 -0400

Did Carolyn Maloney jump the gun in rolling Josh Isay out as a campaign consultant? Last week, when I called Maloney's office with a question about her possibly-maybe Senate campaign, I was referred to Isay, the influential consultant to Michael Bloomberg who, according to a report in City Hall News, Maloney had signed up to work on her prospective bid. At that point, a source with knowledge of the arrangement between Maloney and Isay said that...

Trippi Confirms He's In Talks With Maloney

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:28:00 -0400

In a brief telephone interview this morning, Joe Trippi confirmed a report in yesterday's City Hall News that he is in talks with Representative Carolyn Maloney about potentially working for her possible challenge to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "Yes we've talked," said Trippi. "And she hasn't decide to run yet. But if she does, I think she'll win and I'd want to be part of it." The talks with Trippi come as a poll taken by Doug...

Gillibrand Consolidates, Maloney Denies That Biden Asked Her to Desist

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:52:00 -0400

As part of her continuing effort to become primary-proof, Kirsten Gillibrand announced on the steps of City Hall today the support of two more Democratic members of Congress, Ed Towns and Nydia Velazquez. "I'm extremely grateful," said Gillibrand, as she stood flanked by the two representatives in front of four reporters and one television camera. She called Towns a leader in the House and said that Velazquez introduced her to Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Sonia...

Carolyn Maloney Works It

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:30:00 -0400

City Hall News, which is fast becoming the go-to outlet for politicians who threaten to run primary campaigns against Kirsten Gillibrand, reported today that Representative Carolyn Maloney had made yet another serious-looking gesture about her own possible Senate bid by hiring consultant Josh Isay. Isay managed Caroline Kennedy's bid to win appointment to Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, and more recently advised the Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer on his publicity-winning non-challenge to Gillibrand. One fun passage...

The Dwindling Challenge to Gillibrand

Wed, 20 May 2009 21:52:00 -0400

One by one, Kirsten Gillibrand’s potential Democratic challengers are removing themselves from the race. Steve Israel, who seemed moments away from jumping in just a week ago, pulled the plug last Friday, while Scott Stringer backed out on Tuesday. Their decisions, of course, came under considerable duress, with Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer pushing hard to clear the field for Gillibrand. The number of credible prospective challengers is now down to two: Carolyn Maloney and...

Gillibrand Rolls Out House Dems, But the Delegation Is Still Split

Mon, 18 May 2009 16:58:00 -0400

Steve Israel’s decision to abandon a potential primary challenge to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was apparently the trigger for some members of the New York congressional delegation to coalesce around the incumbent, as Gillibrand’s campaign rolled out endorsements today from representatives Yvette Clarke and Michael McMahon (as well as from State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith). Also expected to endorse Gillibrand, according to one of her aides, are representatives Nita Lowey of Westchester and Brian Higgins...

Israel Thanks Chuck Schumer for Helping Him Decide Not to Run

Fri, 15 May 2009 17:19:00 -0400

Chuck Schumer wins again. In Steve Israel's statement announcing his decision not to challenge Kirsten Gillibrand for U.S. Senate next year, the Long Island representative specifically thanks "Senator Schumer for his friendship and guidance during this process." Last week, an article in The New York Times quoted Schumer telling Democratic donors "There is not going to be a primary!" Schumer's cooperation with the Times story, which was about how he had taken Gillibrand under his wing, was...

Cooper Officially Explores a Race Against Gillibrand

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:17:00 -0400

Add Jon Cooper, a Suffolk County legislator, to the list of Democrats who say they’re considering running a primary against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Cooper sent out a statement saying he filed an exploratory committee for the office. "The problems faced by suburban and rural communities along with urban centers call for a Senator who can address those needs based on his or her business, legislative and community service background,” the statement said. “I am exploring a...

Carolyn Maloney, Possible Senate Candidate, Gets a Statewide Finance Director

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:39:00 -0400

Representative Carolyn Maloney, who has been considering a Democratic primary challenge against U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, has hired a statewide finance director. Lewis Cohen, a former reporter who went to Wall Street to make money, started with Maloney on April 1 and has gotten right to work, lining up a number of theater fund-raising events. The first is this Friday at the Marriott Marquis, right before a performance of "9 to 5," a play based on...