WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Democrat Owens Wins Congressional Race

Democrat Owens Wins Congressional Race

Plattsburgh, New York - November 4, 2009

Democrat Bill Owens was projected the winner of New York's 23rd District just before midnight on Tuesday, a long end to a short but highly scrutinized campaign for Congress.

"Upstate New York hasn't received this much attention since 1980: I am not the Miracle on Ice," Owens said of the race which has made headlines across the nation and drawn the attention of conservative and liberal pundits alike.

Owens had never run for political office before. He told supporters gathered in Plattsburgh that he would set aside the partisanship that had largely characterized the race.

"Tonight the voters in this election sent the message loud and clear," Owens said. "When it comes to getting our economy moving again, creating good paying jobs for our workers, ending tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas and for making Upstate New York a leader in producing clean energy. They put aside partisanship and declared that they're ready to move forward not backward."

Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman had received significant support and funding from the Republican Party and conservative interest groups. They embraced his pro-life, anti-tax ideology, which appealed to many North Country voters. Some thought Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava was too liberal. She dropped out of the race three days before the election and endorsed Owens. Hoffman conceded the race from his Saranac Lake headquarters just after midnight.

"This one was worth the fight and it's only one fight in the battle. We have to keep fighting. We can't stop," Hoffman said.

Bill Owens' election ends the GOP's 150-year grip on the North Country. In the past year, the Republican Party has lost both local districts: the 20th and the 23rd. Both races were decided by extremely narrow margins, but both were victories for the Democrats.

Kate Duffy - WCAX News