NY-29

New York Dem County Chairs Announce Unnamed 'Consensus Candidate' To Succeed Massa (Updated)

Eric Kleefeld | April 6, 2010, 1:27PM

Former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

Democrats in New York's 29 Congressional District, formerly held by ex-Rep. Eric Massa (D), have announced that they have a candidate to succeed him -- but they're not saying who it is just yet. (Late Update: Democrats have selected Matthew Zeller, a 28-year old Rochester native and veteran of Afghanistan.)

The local Democratic chairs put out a statement that they had arrived at a "consensus candidate" for the race, "and that candidate will announce his/her candidacy next week." Republicans have already rallied around Corning Mayor Tom Reed in the race to succeed Massa, who resigned last month in the midst of an alleged sexual harassment scandal.

Adding to the mystery game-show quality of this election is that the date itself has not been determined. Gov. David Paterson's (D) office has floated the idea that the election could be delayed all the way until this September's regularly-scheduled primary, due to financial issues. In their statement, the Dem chairs also voiced these concerns: "It's clear that a special election would prove to be very expensive, particularly considering so many counties in the 29th district are already struggling financially."

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2010 elections

No Special Election For Massa's House Seat?

Eric Kleefeld | April 1, 2010, 2:44PM

Governor David Paterson (D-NY) and former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

It's starting to look like there might not be any special election for the House seat formerly held by ex-Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY), who dramatically resigned last month in a scandal involving allegations of sexual harassment of male aides, a scenario that would leave the seat vacant until at least this November.

Maggie McKeon, a spokeswoman for Gov. David Paterson, told Gannett that no decision has been made on whether to fill the seat before the regular November 2 election -- and that issues of cost would work against it. "We have some serious concerns about the financial impact that a special election could have on the county level, especially because those counties are facing the same fiscal crisis that the state is facing," said McKeon.

If there were an election for this seat, the Republicans would have a pretty good chance of carrying it. The district voted for John McCain by 50%-48% in 2008, while at the same time Massa picked up the seat by a 51%-49% margin in a very Democratic year.

Ethics

Massa The Congressman -- Progressive Icon But Not Engaged With Colleagues

Christina Bellantoni | March 12, 2010, 3:12PM

Former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

In the last few weeks we've learned a lot about former Rep. Eric Massa as he first said he was not seeking reelection due to a recurrence of cancer and then he formally resigned amid allegations he sexually harassed a male staffer. What's lesser known is what Massa was like as a lawmaker and House freshman.

Massa (D-NY) was elected in November 2008 with 51 percent of the vote, a rematch with Randy Kuhl (R) following his narrow loss in 2006. During his short time in office he sponsored nine bills, from the naming of a post office to new broadband regulations. Of those, two were minor amendments that were approved on a nearly unanimous votes.

The 50-year-old former Republican became in some cases a progressive icon, blasting Sen. Chuck Grassley's health care remarks as "treason" and complaining about Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly.

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NY-29

Former GOP Rep. Randy Kuhl Won't Run For Massa's House Seat

Eric Kleefeld | March 10, 2010, 4:49PM

Former Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-NY)

Former Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-NY), who was narrowly defeated for re-election 2008 by Democrat Eric Massa, has announced that he will not run for the seat after Massa's resignation over sexual harassment allegations. This clears the way for Corning Mayor Tom Reed to receive the Republican nomination.

"Over the last week, I have heard from hundreds of my former constituents urging me to run for my old congressional seat. Their emotional plea to me was humbling and most appreciative," Kuhl said in a statement. "But, after careful consideration, I have decided to forego a run for Congress. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me during my 28 years of public service. I look forward to helping the 29th District in any way that I can and I urge my neighbors and friends to support Tom Reed for this congressional seat."

Eric Massa

Massa: 'I Wasn't Forced Out. I Forced Myself Out. I Failed' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 9, 2010, 5:29PM

Former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

Appearing on Glenn Beck's TV show, former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) bluntly admitted that his resignation, over allegations of sexual harassment, was his own fault.

"I wasn't forced out. I forced myself out. I failed," said Massa. "I didn't live up to my own codes. I own this. I take full and complete responsibility for my misbehavior. And goodness only knows what allegations they're gonna throw at me. There's even new ones today and we're gonna talk about that."

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Eric Massa

Back to 216! Massa's Resignation Helps Pelosi Pass Health Care

Brian Beutler | March 5, 2010, 5:10PM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

So Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)--plagued by health problems and an allegation that he harassed a male staffer--will resign on Monday. What does that mean for health care?

It means that, if the vote were to come next week, the threshold for passage of health care reform would drop back to 216 from its current 217.

Recall that Republicans delayed the retirement of Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), simply to boost the vote threshold for health care to 217. Massa's retirement cancels that out.

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NY-29

Massa To Resign Monday

Rachel Slajda | March 5, 2010, 3:31PM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) announced today that he will resign, effective Monday at 5 p.m.

Massa, a freshman legislator, announced this week that he would not seek re-election, due to a cancer recurrence scare. The House ethics panel is also investigating Massa, reportedly for allegations of sexual harassment.

In a statement, Massa acknowledged the allegations for the first time.

"After I decided not to run again I was told, for the first time, that a member of my staff believed I had made statements that made him feel 'uncomfortable,'" he said.

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Eric Massa

Pelosi: I Didn't Know About Massa Allegations

Brian Beutler | March 4, 2010, 12:28PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

At her weekly press conference this morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that she had no prior knowledge of allegations that Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY), harassed a junior staffer.

"I asked my staff, has there been any rumors [about this] before," Pelosi said. "There had been a rumor...nobody made a formal notification to our office that anything happened. A one, two, three person rumor that had been reported to Mr. Hoyer's office, and then reported to my staff, which they did not report to me, because you know what? This is rumor city."

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NY-29

Massa Retirement Creates Big Opening In GOP-Leaning District

Eric Kleefeld | March 4, 2010, 11:35AM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

The sudden retirement of Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) has created a clear weakness for Democrats, in holding on to a seat that was narrowly carried by John McCain in 2008. The first order of business: Finding a new Democratic candidate.

A Democratic source said that it is far too sudden and early to definitively name new Democratic candidates, but with that caveat some possible names are state Rep. Barbara Lifton, state Rep. David Koon, state Rep. Susan John, Canandaigua Mayor Ellen Polimeni, and Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan. The source acknowledged that this is a "tough district" for Democrats, but argued that it's too early to assess the state of the race.

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Ethics

Rep. Nadler Tells TPMDC Massa Allegations Came 'Out Of The Blue'

Brian Beutler | March 4, 2010, 11:24AM

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Rep. Jerrod Nadler (D-NY), told TPMDC today that accusations that he was taken by surprise by allegations that his New York co-delegate, Rep. Eric Massa, harassed a male staffer. He also said Massa's decision not to seek reelection came "out of the blue."

In an interview with me, Nadler (D-NY) said it came to his attention for the first time yesterday, but cautioned that the facts of the situation--which are still not publicly known--would affect how Congress should react.

"And by the way, I don't know the nature of the accusation. Was this an adult or a kid? Remember the situation we had a couple years ago with Foley was an intern--a page. Is the accusation--if it's a consensual sexual relationship with an adult, I'm not sure it's any of our business," Nadler said.

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NY-29

Massa Says Harrassment Story 'Totally False' And Says He's A 'Salty Old Sailor'

Christina Bellantoni | March 3, 2010, 4:41PM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

TPMDC's Brian Beutler waited outside Rep. Eric Massa's office this afternoon in an attempt to get more than the short statement the Democrat read to reporters on the phone earlier.

Massa (D-NY) read a similar statement about his decision not to seek reelection to reporters staking out his Longworth office, and took no questions. Afterward, Brian chased him down the hallway to ask further about the allegations of harassment from a male staffer. Massa denied it and offered one more comment.

"I made my statement. The allegations are totally false. I'm a salty old sailor. That's that," Massa said.

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NY-29

Rep. Eric Massa Says He Won't Seek Re-Election In 'Final Phase' Of His Life

Christina Bellantoni | March 3, 2010, 4:02PM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

Rep. Eric Massa told reporters today that as he enters the "final phase" of his life he will not seek reelection to Congress, adding a rebuke to the press. Massa said charges of sexual harassment being publicized by blogs are "unsubstantiated" and are an example of what's wrong with Washington.

"I do not have the life's energy to fight all the battles all the time. I will now enter the final phase of my life at a more controlled pace," Massa (D-NY) told reporters on a hastily arranged conference call. "I'm a very salty guy, a very direct guy and I run at about 100 miles an hour."

He said that after being briefly hospitalized due to his third major cancer scare in December his doctors "made clear" he couldn't keep up his current pace of work.

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