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Pro-Equality Democrat Kathy Hochul Wins Special Election in Upstate NY

In what has been described as a "stunning defeat" for the Republican Party, Democrat Kathy Hochul captured a congressional seat held for four decades by Republicans. The special election in upstate New York was widely seen as a referendum on the Republican budget plan to privatize Medicare.

The Buffalo News:

Hochul defeated Republican Jane L. Corwin, a Clarence assemblywoman, 47 percent to 43 percent, with 97 percent of election districts reporting, while the Tea Party's Jack Davis mustered only 9 percent in his fourth try for the seat. Ian L. Murphy of the Green Party recorded 1 percent, while overall turnout was about 25 percent.

The results marked a stunning defeat for the GOP in a contest that garnered intense national attention as the first competitive race following the Republican takeover of the House in last November's elections. And as a jubilant Hochul took the stage at her headquarters at the UAW Hall in Amherst at about 10:30 p.m., she reminded supporters about the core of her campaign — controversial proposals by the GOP to revamp Medicare. "We had the issues on our side," Hochul said. "We can balance the budget the right way and not on the backs of our seniors.

Hochul ran on a marriage equality platform in a conservative, McCain-voting district represented by Republicans for decades.

The NY-26 special election was to replace disgraced Republican Rep. Chris Lee, the anti-gay conservative New York congressman who abruptly resigned after being exposed for trolling Craigslist with shirtless pics.

Here's to Democrats flipping more districts in November. Watch Hochul's victory speech AFTER THE JUMP ...

Special Election in NY-26 After GOP Rep. Chris Lee's Exit?

Will there be a special election to replace disgraced Republican Rep. Chris Lee, the anti-gay conservative New York congressman who abruptly resigned after being exposed for trolling Craigslist with shirtless pics?

The would-be candidates are lining up, reports USA Today.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has 30 days to call the special election but he doesn't necessarily have to deem the seat vacant. There was no vacancy declared last year when Democrat Eric Massa stepped down—also because of a sex scandal—in part to help save New York taxpayers the cost of a special election.

Politico, The Hill and Rochester-area TV stations are reporting that various Monroe and Erie County lawmakers in the state Assembly, county, and party offices are considering a race. Lee's district in western New York is Republican, with a voter registration advantage of about 30,000. Republican John McCain won the district in the 2008 presidential election.

Among possible candidates on the GOP side mentioned in news stories: state Sen. George Maziarz, state Assemblywoman Jane Corwin; Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and Erie County GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy. 

Democrats are also expected to field candidates.

Cuomo "is likely" to call the special election, reports Buffalo's WIVB-TV.

NY GOP Rep. Chris Lee Resigns After Shirtless Craigslist Pics

New York Republican Rep. Christopher Lee has resigned after reports on Gawker exposed the married congressman for sending shirtless photos to a woman he met on Craigslist's 'Women Seeking Men' forum. The married Republican congressman described himself as a "divorced ... lobbyist" and "fit fun classy guy."

Lee's statement was read on the House floor.

"It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of Western New York. I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents. I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all. I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness...The challenges we face in Western New York and across the country are too serious for me to allow this distraction to continue, and so I am announcing that I have resigned my seat in Congress effective immediately."

The resignation is effective immediately.

Lee was first elected in 2008. The anti-gay, anti-choice western New York congressman steadfastly opposed repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and voted against the 2020 DADT Repeal Act.

Glass houses, stones, etc..