2009 New York's 20th congressional district special election
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| 2009 New York's 20th congressional district special election | |
|---|---|
 Unknown author, vectorised by user:Fenn-O-maniC · Public domain · source | |
| Election name | 2009 New York's 20th congressional district special election |
| Country | New York |
| Type | special |
| Previous election | 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York |
| Previous year | 2008 |
| Next election | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York |
| Next year | 2010 |
| Election date | March 31, 2009 |
| Seats for election | 1 seat of the United States House of Representatives |
| Turnout | 26.4% |
| Candidate1 | Scott Murphy |
| Party1 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular vote1 | 80,277 |
| Percentage1 | 50.2% |
| Candidate2 | Jim Tedisco |
| Party2 | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular vote2 | 79,563 |
| Percentage2 | 49.8% |
| Title | U.S. Representative |
| Before election | Kirsten Gillibrand |
| Before party | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After election | Scott Murphy |
| After party | Democratic Party (United States) |
2009 New York's 20th congressional district special election was held on March 31, 2009, to fill the United States House of Representatives seat vacated by Kirsten Gillibrand. Gillibrand was appointed by David Paterson to the United States Senate, succeeding Hillary Clinton after her confirmation as United States Secretary of State. The closely watched contest between Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican Jim Tedisco became a national proxy battle over the economic policies of the new Barack Obama administration.
Background
The vacancy was created when incumbent Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed by Governor David Paterson to the United States Senate in January 2009. Gillibrand filled the seat of Hillary Clinton, who resigned to become United States Secretary of State under President Barack Obama. The 20th congressional district of New York was historically a Republican-leaning district, having been represented for decades by Gerald Solomon and later John Sweeney. However, Gillibrand, a Democrat, had won the seat in the 2006 election and was re-elected in the 2008 election. The special election was called by Governor Paterson, setting the date for late March, and was viewed as an early referendum on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the agenda of the Obama administration.
Candidates
The Democratic nominee was Scott Murphy, a venture capitalist and first-time candidate from Glens Falls. Murphy was selected by local Democratic county chairs after a process that also considered figures like Tracey Brooks. The Republican nominee was Jim Tedisco, the Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly. Tedisco, a longtime Schenectady assemblyman, was chosen by GOP leaders over other potential candidates. The Conservative Party of New York State endorsed Tedisco, while the Working Families Party and Independence Party of New York backed Murphy. No other significant third-party candidates qualified for the ballot.
Campaign
The campaign centered on the national debate over the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Murphy supported and Tedisco opposed. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee invested heavily in television ads and get-out-the-vote efforts, framing the race as a choice between economic recovery and fiscal restraint. Murphy, a political newcomer, emphasized his business background and support for the Obama administration's agenda. Tedisco, a veteran of Albany politics, criticized the stimulus as wasteful spending and portrayed Murphy as inexperienced. Key endorsements included Barack Obama and the Service Employees International Union for Murphy, and Rudy Giuliani and the National Rifle Association for Tedisco. The race was exceptionally close, with both candidates and outside groups like Americans for Prosperity spending millions.
Election results
On election night, Murphy held a narrow lead of a few hundred votes out of nearly 160,000 cast. The absence of absentee ballots and a high number of provisional ballots triggered an automatic recount under New York State election law. The New York State Board of Elections oversaw the canvassing process, which lasted for several weeks and included challenges from both legal teams. Murphy was ultimately declared the winner on April 24, 2009, after all military and overseas ballots were counted. The final certified results gave Murphy 80,277 votes (50.2%) to Tedisco's 79,563 votes (49.8%), a margin of 714 votes. Voter turnout was approximately 26.4%, with Murphy carrying counties like Warren and Washington, while Tedisco won Saratoga and Columbia.
Aftermath
Murphy was sworn into the 111th United States Congress on April 29, 2009, by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. His victory was hailed by the Democratic Party as validation of President Barack Obama's economic policies and marked a continuation of the district's shift toward the Democrats. Murphy served the remainder of the term but was defeated in the 2010 Republican wave election by Chris Gibson. The special election demonstrated the potency of the Tea Party movement and nationalized politics in local contests, influencing strategy for both parties in subsequent elections like the 2009 gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. The district was later significantly altered by reapportionment following the 2010 United States Census.
Category:2009 New York elections Category:United States House of Representatives special elections Category:2009 in American politics