ABSTRACT

In late 2009, a puzzling special election to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 23rd district in New York drew national attention. This election turned on a split between the Republican leaders in Washington, D.C., and conservative activists in the “Tea Party” movement. This congressional seat came open when Republican Congressman John McHugh resigned to become Secretary of the Army in the Obama administration. It was widely assumed that another Republican would win the seat as no Democrat had won in that district since the Civil War. District Republicans nominated Diedre “Dede” Scozzafava, a popular moderate state legislator, as their candidate. Democrats nominated William Owens, a lawyer and fi rst-time candidate.