Question about New York's 23rd District

[RooseveltTruman]

In pretty much ANY coverage you read/watch/hear regarding Democrat Bill Owens's victory over Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman in New York's 23rd congressional district, you're almost BOUND to hear this: "This is the first time that the district has sent a Democrat to the House since the Civil War!"

Now, I'll admit straight up: I don't live in NY-23, and I don't know anything about its electoral or redistricting history. So, I did what any admitted ignoramus would do: I went to Wikipedia. And according to our Wikipals ( at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York%27s_23rd_congressional_district ), it would appear that Democrats have been elected many times over the past century and a half, with a Democrat occupying the seat as recently as 1993.

So what gives? What am I missing here? Since I'm ignorant as to New York state gerrymandering and redistricting, could somebody please explain how the "since the Civil War" agreement was reached? Or how the state's gerrymandering has worked in a way that makes that statement true? I was hoping that, over the last two weeks, I'd find an answer to this, but try as I might, I've found nothing, so I'm coming to you guys!

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I heard on the radio yesterday that the final results may come into question...

anyone else hear this?

[dtotire]

2. Check this Out

The closely watched special election in New York's 23rd Congressional District is turning into a real nail biter -- more than a week after the polls closed.

The Post-Standard in Syracuse is reporting that Democratic Rep. Bill Owens' lead over Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman has narrowed to about 3,000 votes as election officials recanvass the 11-county district. The final outcome will depend on absentee ballots.

Voting machine glitches appear to be to blame for the changing count. The Post-Standard reports that in Oswego County, a Hoffman stronghold, the unofficial vote count showed him only 500 votes ahead with 93 percent of the vote in on election night. Inspectors have since discovered Hoffman actually won the county by 1,748 votes.

The New York State Board of Elections shows the current unofficial vote total as 66,698 to 63,672, according to the Post-Standard. During a wild race for the seat, Republican leaders such as Sarah Palin endorsed the conservative Hoffman over the establishment Republican candidate, who dropped out days before the election and endorsed Owens.



http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2009/11/ny-special-election-continues-wild-ride.html

[shraby]

4. Aren't they too late? Hoffman conceded the election to

Owens and Owens has been sworn in.

[harkadog]

7. Under election law concession mean nothing

It is who the board of elections declare the winner. That is why Gore's concession on election night 2000 meant nothing and he could "take it back" which he did.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. It would be just horrible if it turns out that Hoffman won there....

The gloating by the repukes would be even more unbearable than their normal obnoxiousness.

[dsc]

3. that refers to the area and not the number of the district

if you look at the end of the article it makes that clear.

[Happyhippychick]

5. Here's your answer

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5072/amazing-political-history-of-ny23

[harkadog]

6. The "since the Civil War" stuff is sloppy reporting

Small sections of what is now NY 23 have not been represented by a Democrat since the Civil War. Pieces have been represented by Democrats up until about 1970. The #23 was actually used for a district in the New York City area until the early 90s and that's why it shows a Democrat representing the district until 1993. The current NY 23 is actually not as solidly Republican as has been portrayed. Obama won the district in 2008 52% to 47%.

[Alexander]

8. New York used to have over 40 congressional districts.

New York has lost districts over the years due to its population not increasing at the same rate as, say, California or Texas.

When states gain and lose districts (due to the Census), they have to shift around the congressional districts.

So New York's 23rd district used to be in a completely different area in New York state.

When pundits say the area hasn't been represented since the Civil War, they are referring to the specific towns and villages, not the district number itself.

Some towns in the area were represented by Republicans so long that the last non-Republican to represent them was in the Whig party (essentially the precursor to the Republicans).

[Warpy]

9. You're confusing the 23rd district's electoral history

with the fact that the 23rd district has changed geographical location many times over the years.

This particular geographical area of New York state has gone Republican for over a hundred years. The 23rd district elected Democrats only when its geographical area was elsewhere.

That's where the confusion is from, redistricting.

[mdmc]

10. The physical land (NYS23 current) has not had dem representation

NYS23 has morphed over time.. it hasnt always been the same physical location..