Friday House Cleaning: Murphy - Not Tedisco - Fever
House Race Hotline editor Tim Sahd takes a look each Friday at the top five House stories of the week. Here are this week's big newsmakers, brought to you by Friday House Cleaning:
5. CA-10: Crowded House
Last week, state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D) was looking pretty strong in the race to replace outgoing-Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA 10). This week, though, saw the expected entrance of two formidable opponents: Assemb. Joan Buchanan (D) and LG John Garamendi (D), who dropped out of the GOV race to run in this soon-to-be special election.
They each can claim some stake here: DeSaulnier has Tauscher's endorsement; Buchanan lead the Dem field (albeit, one that didn't include Garamendi) in a late-Mar. poll her campaign conducted, and will also enjoy a fundraising bump if she garners an endorsement from EMILY's List; and Garamendi has the name ID. This race -- whenever Tauscher actually gets confirmed to the State Dept. -- should be a battle of the titans.
4. PA-11 And TN-09: We're Having A Party
Already this cycle, there's been lots of announced primary challenges to incumbents, and this week saw a few more potential races develop. Indeed, Reps. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA 11) and Steve Cohen (D-TN 09) found out they may be facing very difficult intra-party challenges.
Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton (D) -- who's currently under FBI investigation for past business dealings -- is getting a bunch of gruff in the media for his potential challenge to Cohen. But that's nothing new. In his '07 re-election, he triumphed over a 5-way primary field, and the wishes of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, after trailing badly in polls earlier in the year. If African-American voters rally around him -- something they didn't do for '08 candidate Nikki Tinker (D) -- he's got a chance. But Cohen knows how to overcome the odds, too. He trounced Tinker despite enduring some nasty, race-based attacks in a 60% African-American CD in '08.
Meanwhile, Kanjorski's challenge comes from first-term Lackawanna Co. Commis. Corey O'Brien (D). But Kanjorski may not be the lame-duck he appeared to be just last summer. His come-from-behind '08 victory may have been a blessing, helping him increase his name ID in a CD he hasn't had to run a real race in in decades.
3. Swing...
This week saw some recruiting hits for both parties. For GOPers, DA Martin Beeson (R) says he's considering a bid to challenge Rep. John Salazar (D-CO 03). John McCain took 50% here, and though Salazar is very popular, this is still the type of CD the GOP needs to win if they want to see the majority anytime soon.
And in IL-14, GOPers may get a familiar name, if not face, as ex-Speaker Hastert son Ethan Hastert (R) "confirmed" 4/17 that he was considering running against Rep. Bill Foster (D). Foster flipped ex-Speaker Hastert's CD when he defeated perennial candidate/dairy magnate Jim Oberweis (R) in an '08 special election, but how will he fare when facing a dynasty? With Obama's and Foster's big win here, this isn't Ethan's Dad's safe-GOP CD, but it's still in purple territory, and thus potentially winnable.
For Dems, it looks as though they'll have a credible candidate to run in IL-10, where Rep. Mark Kirk (R) is still deciding whether to stay in the House or run for SEN. But while he ponders, state Sen. Michael Bond (D) has hired several big-time consultants and looks as though he's in. Last week, state Sen. Susan Garrett (D) said she'd run if Kirk retires. Either way, if the formidable Kirk leaves, this 61% Obama CD would give Dems a very big pickup opportunity. If Kirk stays, IL-10 yet again becomes one of the cycle's spotlight races.
2. ...And A Miss
But each party also suffered a few disappointments. State Rep. Adam Hasner (D) decided against a challenge to Rep. Ron Klein (D-FL 22) in Ft. Lauderdale. Klein surprisingly struggled against underfunded Iraq vet Allen West (R) in '08, taking just under 55%. And this CD is still competitive, as McCain took 48% here. But Hasner was a top-tier challenger that was capable of raising tons of money, and now the GOP's hopes lie with West, which means this likely won't be a top-tier race.
Meanwhile, the CA Target Book says '06/'08 nominee Bill Durston (D) may opt against a rematch with Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA 03), who he held to just 49.5% in '08. Durston wasn't the strongest of candidates in '08, but he certainly would've brought name ID into a rematch. Still, some Dems are attempting to draft Garamendi to run here instead of in CA-10. Garamendi's ranch sits in both CDs, so it's possible he could switch to this race. But would he abandon his GOV bid to run in CA-10, then turn around and abandon that race for CA-03?
1. NY-20: It's All Over
After several court decisions, a re-canvass and tens of daily updates from the NY Board of Elections, Assemb. Jim Tedisco (R) conceded the race this afternoon in a phone call to businessman/Rep-elect Scott Murphy (D). Tedisco, in a statement: "This was a closely contested election that perhaps lasted a little longer than anyone may have expected or wanted. But it was important for our electoral process and for the hard-working people of Upstate New York that it be resolved fairly and decisively."
Murphy responded: "First and foremost, I wish to thank the voters in this election for putting their faith and trust in me. I can't wait to get to work on their behalf in Washington. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves in Washington to bring jobs, opportunity, and prosperity back to Upstate New York."
By the way, the last tally from the Board of Election: Murphy +401. Now that the race is over, we're going to go through withdrawal from not getting our daily dose from this site.