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.