House | The New York Observer

Republicans Ponder Scozzafava, Attack Still-Balking Aubertine

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:55:00 -0400

ALBANY—Republicans are lashing out at State Senator Darrel Aubertine, the most likely Democratic candidate to succeed John McHugh in Congress, releasing this TV ad tomorrow and a robocall painting him as a tax-and-spend liberal. "Call Darrel Aubertine. Tell him he voted for too much spending," says the ad, which the National Republican Congressional Committee says will start airing tomorrow. The G.O.P. has been bracing for an Aubertine candidacy, but moved to attack before he was (or...

Murphy Makes a Show of Fund-Raising

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:02:00 -0400

ALBANY—Here's a glimpse into Representative Scott Murphy's campaign strategy moving forward: show you can raise lots of money, fast, and hope that, despite the party enrollment disadvantage, potential Republican opponents will be scared off. Murphy raised $363,151 during this quarter, and according to his chief of staff Todd Schulte, has raised $567,000 since April 1, when he narrowly defeated Assemblyman Jim Tedisco. Murphy also established a joint account with the New York Democratic State Committee, which...

The Last Thing the Iranian Reformers Need

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:55:00 -0400

It’s not a stretch for Americans to look at the scenes of mass protest in Iran and think back to 1989, when popular uprisings toppled one Soviet-backed regime after another in Eastern Europe. That mental association is one that Barack Obama’s critics have seized upon, arguing that the same presidential bully pulpit that hastened the liberation of those nations from Moscow 20 years ago should now be used to spur on the women, men...

Republicans Undertake an Actual Open Nominating Process for the McHugh Seat

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:40:00 -0400

ALBANY—Republicans are determined not to let the special election in the 23rd Congressional District be a repeat of their against-the-odds loss earlier this year in the 20th District, starting with the selection process. While the Capitol melted, the Republican State Committee detailed a system of four candidate forums in various parts of the district, where any candidate seeking to replace John McHugh, who has accepted Barack Obama's nomination to be secretary of the Army, can...

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...

Weiner Thinks Aid To Gaza Could Be the Wedge Issue Among Pro-Israel Democrats

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0400

In an interview for a story I wrote about Barack Obama's impact on Israel politics in America, Anthony Weiner suggested that the president's attention-getting statements about settlements weren't the real issue. The main point of contention among local Israel supporters, he said, may end up being Obama's position on aide to Gaza. "He says something in the [Cairo] speech about the United States has to respect elections. Now that's either Hamas or Lebanon," said Weiner....

Obama Redefines the Debate for New York's Israel Boosters

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:59:00 -0400

Barack Obama is changing what it means to be a pro-Israel politician in America. That much is obvious from the unusually thoughtful, nuanced and varied reactions by officials in New York—the world capital of Israel-boosterism—to his criticisms of the Netanyahu government’s settlement policies. “I think Obama feels that this type of shock therapy will have an effect on Netanyahu and also cause some American Jews to rally to his side,” said Representative Pete King, a staunchly...

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...

Rangel: Senate Flip Is a 'Real Embarrassment' to New York

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:15:00 -0400

The Republican takeover of the State Senate does not make Charlie Rangel feel good about himself, his fellow New York congressmembers, or his state. "It's been a real embarrassment to the New York delegation—both Republican and Democrat—to believe that people who have been indicted can be welcomed into the Republican Party," said Rangel, referring to Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr. "This is a coup that is not based on principles of politics but merely...

Nadler Mourns the (Temporary?) Death of the Progressive Agenda in Albany

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:28:00 -0400

Representative Jerry Nadler said late yesterday, optimistically, that it is entirely possible that the two Democrats who enabled the Republican takeover of the State Senate will be gone from the chamber by the time new congressional districts are drawn. But either way, he said, he feared that the progressive Democratic agenda that was supposed to be in the works in Albany is likely to be a casualty of Tuesday's coup. "As I get this story...

With an Eye on Redistricting, Steve Israel Says Republican Takeover 'Complicates Things'

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:12:00 -0400

Representative Steve Israel, who handles recruiting for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said that the Republican takeover of the State Senate makes life more difficult in terms of the redistricting process, which will be hashed out by the governor and legislative leaders next year. "Of course it complicates things from a Democratic perspective," said Israel in a phone interview. But Israel expressed confidence that things could change in two years. "It's entirely a local function," he...

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...

Scozzafava as a Democrat for Congress?

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:19:00 -0400

Certain factions of the Republican party think Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava is too liberal to run for the congressional seat being vacated by John McHugh. But what about running as a member of the other party? As one well-connected Democrat argued to me, It's an obvious way to go. She's a moderate, well-liked and known person. It will be interesting to see what the Republicans do with her." She has not, in the past, been approved by...

Why McHugh's District Is an Opportunity, and Possibly a Headache, for the Democrats

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:35:00 -0400

On the surface, John McHugh’s decision to abandon his 23rd District House seat to serve as Barack Obama’s Army secretary offers Democrats a promising opportunity to push the state’s Republican congressional one step closer to extinction. Less than three years ago, nine of New York’s 29 districts were represented by Republicans. That number was reduced to six by the 2006 elections, and then to three after last November’s vote—where it remains, thanks to Democrat...

Obama's Army Wonk

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:25:00 -0400

ALBANY—Every May, some school districts in central New York and the North Country hold public policy forums in conjunction with school budget votes, and elected officials often attend. When Ray Meier was still serving in the State Senate, he would run into Representative John McHugh at this event, and others like it, from time to time. "McHugh would come in with these binders filled with all kinds of material," Meier recalled on Tuesday, "and...

The Many, Many Scenarios for Replacing McHugh

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:24:00 -0400

ALBANY—Let the mental chess game regarding who might run to replace Representative John McHugh, and how the process may go, begin. I just spoke with John Conklin, a spokesman for the State Board of Elections, who hashed out a few scenarios for the actual vote--depending on what McHugh and David Paterson do next: (1) Paterson could call a special election to fill the seat, as he did in the race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand earlier this...

When McHugh Goes, Can Democrats Make the 23rd the New 20th?

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:47:00 -0400

ALBANY—Here we go again. The news from Washington is that Representative John McHugh, a Republican representing the North Country, will be tapped by Barack Obama to be secretary of the Army. This means, of course, that—assuming McHugh is confirmed—there will be an off-cycle election for his seat. McHugh is one of only three Republicans left representing New York in the House. (Long Island's Peter King and Chris Lee of the Buffalo area are the other two.) The...

Massa Still Not For (Or Against) Gillibrand

Tue, 26 May 2009 10:14:00 -0400

ALBANY—Representative Eric Massa, in his first term representing the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier, refused again this morning to endorse Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, or to utter any approving comment about how she's conducted herself on the job thus far. "I'm not even going to go there," Massa told reporters on his weekly conference call. "I have not looked at anything she's done. I have been so focused on what I'm trying to do for the...

A Delegation Divided: Serrano and the Gillibrand Holdouts Await Their Due

Fri, 22 May 2009 10:19:00 -0400

According to Jose Serrano, Kirsten Gillibrand is going after the low-hanging fruit first. In the days since Representative Steve Israel decided not to consider a primary against Gillibrand, following calls from President Barack Obama and Senator Chuck Schumer, other members of the New York Congressional delegation have quickly lined up in support of Gillibrand: Nita Lowey, Maurice Hinchey, Brian Higgins, Michael McMahon, Yvette Clarke, John Hall, Michael Arcuri. Soon Nydia Velasquez and Ed Towns...

Murphy Explains His Vote to Investigate a Democratic-Linked Lobbying Firm

Fri, 15 May 2009 17:37:00 -0400

ALBANY—Republicans in the House of Representatives have been trying to force a probe by the chamber's ethics committee into a lobbying firm, the PMA Group, and into how Democratic leaders have tried to block it. One of a few Democrats who bucked the party leadership was Scott Murphy, who replaced Kirsten Gillibrand in Congress. I asked him whether he was aware of the direction from his conference leaders to vote no on the Republican resolution...

Tedisco and Kellner on Bisexuality and Weddings

Wed, 13 May 2009 14:20:00 -0400

ALBANY—Here's a funny exchange between Jim Tedisco and Danny O'Donnell during last night's Assembly debate on same-sex marriage. It starts with O'Donnell, the bill's sponsor, agreeing to yield to Tedisco, saying, "For the congressman, anything." "I wish," Tedisco replied, referencing his recent loss to Scott Murphy in good humor. "Do you have 700 votes in the back of your trunk?" "I'm a Democrat from New York City, you bet I do," O'Donnell replied. Tedisco, sitting in the back...

G.E., Paterson, Smith, Others Announce Plans for New Plant Upstate

Tue, 12 May 2009 12:49:00 -0400

NISKAYUNA—Flanked by government officials, including David Paterson, General Electric C.E.O. Jeff Immelt announced plans to build a $100 million battery manufacturing plant in the Capital Region. The new factory would make batteries developed using a nickel-sodium technology and could power hybrid cars, locomotives or other large equipment. A press release said that the investment was contingent on a grant from the federal stimulus package, but Immelt said "it's going to go forward regardless" and he...

Why Steve Israel Is Doing It

Mon, 11 May 2009 21:15:00 -0400

You don’t have to like Steve Israel to respect the bold and risky move he’s apparently on the verge of making. The fifth-term Long Island congressman, to believe reports that are now leaking out all over, will soon declare his candidacy for the 2010 Democratic Senate nomination, a slot that most national and some state Democrats would prefer be reserved for Kirsten Gillibrand. Mr. Israel’s odds aren’t exactly good. Hardly anyone knows who he is, he’ll...

Steve Israel Isn't Blinking (or Announcing) Yet

Mon, 11 May 2009 08:39:00 -0400

ALBANY—According to two congressional sources, Representative Steve Israel began telling some colleagues late last week about his intention to mount a primary challenge to Kirsten Gillibrand, who was picked over Israel and others to be senator. Fred Dicker reported that the announcement could come as early as today, but I was told by two people familiar with his plans that a formal declaration isn't going to come until later. (Dan Janison's sources say the same..) For...

Murphy Says Thank You

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:24:00 -0400

Scott Murphy Thank You Party Invite ALBANY—Representative Scott Murphy will host a "thank you" party for supporters this Saturday in Saratoga Springs. Murphy, the newest member of the New York delegation, appeared today in Clifton Park and has appearances scheduled Saturday in Delaware and Greene Counties. Murphy today also finalized the hiring of a legislative director: Andrew Lattanner, who most recently worked for Representative Joe Donnelly of Indiana. According to Todd Schulte, Murphy's chief...

Larry Bulman May Step Down as Saratoga County Chair

Fri, 08 May 2009 12:48:00 -0400

ALBANY—Larry Bulman, the Saratoga County Democratic Chairman who worked extensively to help Scott Murphy get elected to Congress, is going to Washington part-time as a union advocate and may step down as party chair. Bulman, the business manager for Local 773 of the Plumbers and Steamfitters union as well as political director for the New York State Pipe & Trades association, just told me he will serve as assistant to the national political director of...

1199 Outspent the DCCC (But Not the NRCC) in the Scott Murphy Race

Mon, 04 May 2009 16:34:00 -0400

ALBANY—The health care workers union SEIU 1199 spent over $500,000 to help Scott Murphy defeat Assemblyman Jim Tedisco in their race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand in Congress. Federal campaign filings show the union invested more in independent expenditures than even the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee toward Murphy's victory, between their political action and political education committees. A memo from 1199's New York political director, Kevin Finnegan, to the SEIU national political director John Youngdahl, that was...

If Only They'd Listened to Jack Kemp

Mon, 04 May 2009 06:27:00 -0400

Jack Kemp's death over the weekend has produced a flood of news stories about his life and political career. From a purely political standpoint, though, one lesson from Kemp's career stands out: it really matters who a presidential candidate picks for a running-mate. Yes, vice presidents are a heartbeat away from the presidency, so of course the choice matters. But just consider how differently history might have played out if Ronald Reagan had simply gone...

Schulte Stays With Murphy, Now Chief of Staff

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:30:00 -0400

ALBANY—Newly sworn-in Representative Scott Murphy has hired Todd Schulte to serve as his chief of staff. Schulte, 28, served as deputy campaign manager in Murphy's successful race against Assemblyman Jim Tedisco. He has served for the last two election cycles with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, where he worked in both communications and fund-raising. He and Murphy have some things in common: both are natives of Missouri (Schulte is from St. Louis) and earned undergraduate degrees...

Post-Game: From a Back-Row Seat, Tedisco Mans Up

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:27:00 -0400

ALBANY—Assemblyman Jim Tedisco said there is no one to blame but himself for losing a Congressional bid that, by general consensus, was very winnable for a Republican candidate against the all-but-unknown Democrat Scott Murphy. "I think, any time you lose an election it's basically the candidate's fault," Tedisco told me in an interview on the Assembly floor between bill votes. "So I don't blame anybody else but myself. It's the candidate's fault if he doesn't...

Paterson, Drawing the Line at Harlem

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:39:00 -0400

One of the most amazing things about David Paterson’s rally in Harlem this weekend was, as Nick Confessore noted, the fact that Paterson had to do it in the first place. “So, I want to know who is out there that can cut the budget that effectively and remember those who need to be protected the most,” Paterson said ten-and-a-half minutes into his speech at the National Action Network office on 135th Street. “If there...

Paterson and Murphy: Happy Together, For Now

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:23:00 -0400

GLENS FALLS—During Scott Murphy's successful bid for Congress, David Paterson limited his efforts on behalf of his fellow Democrat to phone calls behind the scenes and fund-raising efforts. He did not appear publicly with the candidate until election night, when polls closed with Murphy ahead narrowly. After Assemblyman Jim Tedisco conceded the race on Friday, Paterson traveled to the shady park outside the Crandall Library to bask in the reflected glow of Murphy's election. And why...

Nancy Pelosi's Luckiest Defeat

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:16:00 -0400

Sometimes, it takes years until the consequences of a decision to become clear. So it is with two bold moves that Nancy Pelosi made nearly three years ago. In one case, she got her way, and in the other she didn't - both very fortuitous outcomes, for the House Speaker and for her party, as it now turns out. The move that succeeded was Pelosi's decision in November 2006, against an outcry from the media...

Representative Scott Murphy and the Blue-ing of the 20th

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:25:00 -0400

GLENS FALLS—Scott Murphy, a Democratic businessman from Glens Falls, will be sworn in as the next congressman in the 20th district, after Republican Assemblyman Jim Tedisco issued an official concession. At a downtown intersection for his first public appearance since a special election March 31, Murphy walked to the corner towing his three children and returning his wife's smiles. He made a brief statement, then took questions and conducted interviews. "We're having a great day, obviously,"...

Tedisco Concedes; Scott Murphy Will Go to Congress

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:51:00 -0400

ALBANY—More than three weeks after the special election, Assemblyman Jim Tedisco is conceding his Congressional bid against Scott Murphy. The announcement came via press release shortly after Tedisco called Murphy to concede. No press conference is immediately planned, from what I gather. In Tedisco's statement, he thanked his supporters but did not elaborate on his political future; open questions are whether he will run again for Congress, bid for a seat in the State Senate...

Tedisco May Concede Today

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:23:00 -0400

ALBANY—As overall vote tallies repeatedly skew toward Scott Murphy, the pressure is mounting on Assemblyman Jim Tedisco to concede defeat in the 20th Congressional District election, and people close to him say an official announcement could come as soon as this afternoon. "It looks slim," said Saratoga County Republican Chair Jasper Nolan, in an interview yesterday, of Tedisco's chances of victory. Tedisco's inner circle, with consultation from state and national party officials, met late yesterday and...

Murphy Close to the Finish Line: Tedisco Needs 75 Percent of Remaining Votes to Catch Up

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:12:00 -0400

ALBANY—It's rapidly becoming statistically impossible for Assemblyman Jim Tedisco to win a seat in Congress. My figures are inexact—the calculations here are based on both official Board of Elections numbers, and on conversations with election officials and both campaigns—but the math looks pretty conclusive. Here's what I've come up with: On Election Night, Democrat Scott Murphy finished with about a 60-vote lead over Tedisco, with no absentee ballots counted. Recanvassing of mechanical machines put...

Redistricting Chaos Theory: Jim Tedisco, the State Senate and the Last Long Island Republican

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:51:00 -0400

Every indicator suggests that, when all of the counting, recounting and litigating is finally over, Scott Murphy will have defeated Jim Tedisco for the open House seat in the upstate 20th District. But the biggest loser could end up being a Long Islander. That would be Peter King, the ninth-term Republican congressman whose 3rd District is nowhere near the 20th. With Murphy's apparent victory, Democrats have lost what would have been an easy target for...

Murphy's Lead Grows to 365

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:40:00 -0400

ALBANY—Democrat Scott Murphy's lead over Assemblyman Jim Tedisco in their race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand in Congress has grown to 365 votes, the latest official tally shows. According to the State Board of Elections, the overall tally now stands at 79,751 79,951 for Murphy; 79,586 for Tedisco. The new tally reflects updated numbers from Warren and Essex counties. Counting is still taking place in Saratoga and Washington counties. Most of Murphy's gain came from Warren County,...

The Recount Will Go On: NY-20 Judge Says Residency Objections Will Be Heard 'Case by Case'

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:54:00 -0400

ALBANY—The ballot-counting the race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand in Congress will likely go on for a long time, in light of a court ruling just issued. Judge James Brands declined to set a specific standard regarding valid residency, and said that objections lodged on the basis of ballot applications will, indeed, stand. While Democrat Scott Murphy leads Jim Tedisco by 273 votes according to the latest official tally, there are some 1,800 votes left uncounted. This...

As Other Republicans Give Up on the 20th, Tedisco Says He Remains 'Hopeful'

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:48:00 -0400

ALBANY—Since he is no longer the minority leader, Assemblyman Jim Tedisco must be present in his seat for his vote to be counted. And there he sat yesterday afternoon, taking the occasional call on his cell phone, chatting with a few colleagues, and glancing down to review the housing legislation currently before his chamber. As I approached him on the floor to talk about his other project--his bid for Congress, which hinges on an ongoing...

Tedisco Lawyers Seek to 'Reargue' a Judge's Decision

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:16:00 -0400

POUGHKEEPSIE—Attorneys for Republican Assemblyman James Tedisco filed two memoranda of law in the ongoing legal wrangling over absentee ballots in his Congressional race against Democrat Scott Murphy. Tedisco's lawyers moved to "renew and reargue" a ruling issued last week by Judge James Brands that declared that objections lodged against absentee ballots on the basis of their applications were not valid. James Walsh, an attorney representing Tedisco, argued that the case cited as the backbone of Brands'...

Going Into Court, Murphy Leads By 273

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:14:00 -0400

ALBANY—With all the ballots counted (except for those that have been laid aside because of objections), Scott Murphy finished with a 273-vote lead of Assemblyman Jim Tedisco in the race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand. The overall tally, according to the state Board of Elections, is 79,839 for Murphy, 79,566 for Tedisco. Since this morning, Murphy gained nine votes as counters finished tallying votes in Dutchess and Warren counties. Attorneys for both campaigns will be in court Monday...

Protesters, Non-Rural Democrats Coming to Democratic Rural Conference

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:48:00 -0400

ALBANY—All of New York's Democratic elected officials will be gathering, or at least stopping in, at the Democratic Rural Conference being held this weekend at theGideon Putnam hotel. The crowd includes many definite and potential candidates for statewide office. The schedule is below. Of particular note are David Paterson and Andrew Cuomo, whose campaign committees will both host receptions tonight, and Representative Steve Israel, who represents a district that is far from rural but who...

Tedisco's Legal Window?

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:54:00 -0400

ALBANY—Despite a recent spate of negative developments, Assemblyman Jim Tedisco's legal team thinks there may be an opportunity to change a court ruling rendered against them Wednesday—part of the ongoing fight over paper ballots in the race between Tedisco and Democrat Scott Murphy for the Kirsten Gillibrand House seat. Wednesday's ruling essentially said that the campaigns don't have a right to contest applications for absentee ballots once the ballots have actually been issued by the...

State Elections Board: Murphy's Lead Increases to 264

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:49:00 -0400

ALBANY—More paper ballots counted in Warren and Columbia counties have pushed Democrat Scott Murphy's lead over Assemblyman Jim Tedisco to 264 in the race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand. According to the State Board of Elections, as of 10 a.m. the overall tally was 79,772 for Murphy; 79,264 for Tedisco. There are still some 1,300 ballots that have been set aside after objections from one of the campaigns. These ballots will be reviewed starting...

Murphy's Lead Doubles, But Recounting Stalls in the Absence of a Qualified Republican Official

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:27:00 -0400

ALBANY—Democrats are accusing Republicans of walking away from the counting table in Dutchess County with the absentee ballots from three towns still unopened, thereby stalling a recount of the election between Scott Murphy and Jim Tedisco for Kirsten Gillibrand's open House seat. One of the Republicans charged with adjudicating ballot objections took the day off to attend a baseball game. Results released this morning by the State Board of Elections show that with more results in...

Democrats Now Say Tedisco Is 'Delaying the Inevitable'

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:25:00 -0400

ALBANY—Saratoga County Republican chairman Jasper Nolan was planning to be in New York City last night for the annual Republican dinner, but it the end, he didn't make it. He was busy coordinating the Assemblyman Jim Tedisco increasingly grim-looking fight to win a recount in his House race. The most recent developments, which have tilted in the direction of Democratic candidate Scott Murphy, are reflected in the respective tones of each side's statements. "Let me put...

Tedisco Still Trails by 86, With Challenges Breaking Against Him

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:44:00 -0400

ALBANY—Assemblyman Jim Tedisco gained 163 votes from Saratoga County, with all election districts reporting, elections officials there said, but he still is running 86 votes behind Democrat Scott Murphy in the race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand. The State Board of Elections overall tally, as of 4 p.m., is 79,105 for Murphy, 79,019 for Tedisco. There are still over 1,200 ballots set aside, but most will now be opened after a ruling from James Brands which upheld...

NY-20 Judge: Most Objections Invalid

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:34:00 -0400

ALBANY—Judge James Brands just ruled that most of the over 1,200 contested absentee ballots in the race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand in Congress were objected to improperly based on discrepancies in their applications. This means many more ballots will be counted. Henry Berger, an attorney for Democratic candidate Scott Murphy, argued this morning that these ballots should all be counted because boards of election already issued them. Any problems with those ballots - from an...