Democrats Suffer Major Loss in New York Special Election for Congress

Were Democrats Paying Attention?  – No They Were Watching A Different Program

The 9^th Congressional District of New York is a solidly Democratic District that has not elected a Republican to Congress since the 1920’s.  The seat became open when incumbent Anthony Weiner had to resign, and the Democrats chose David Weprin, an experienced elected politician to run for the seat.  The Republicans chose Bob Turner, an inexperienced non-elected politician who had never held office and who had been defeated by 10 percentage points the last time an election was held.

The results were not pretty for the Democrats.  The election was not close.  Mr. Turner won by 54% to 46%.  Here is one voter speaking

“I am a registered Democrat, I have always been a registered Democrat, I come from a family of Democrats — and I hate to say this, I voted Republican,” said Linda Goldberg, 61, after casting her ballot in Queens. “I need to send a message to the president that he’s not doing a very good job. Our economy is horrible. People are scared.”

And here is the reaction of the head of the Democratic National Committee.

But Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said the district’s large concentration of Orthodox Jews made it unusual and meant the race had few national ramifications.

“In this district, there is a large number of people who went to the polls tonight who didn’t support the president to begin with and don’t support Democrats — and it’s nothing more than that,” she said in a telephone interview.

Ms. Wasserman Schultz, you need to call Linda Goldberg. 



Mr. Turner, the Republican Winner
That's Funny - He Doesn't Look Jewish



So did religion play a role in the race?  Maybe, but here’s the point Ms. Wasserman Schultz.  The Democratic candidate who lost in the heavily Jewish, heavily Democratic, heavily pro-Israel District is an Orthodox Jew.  His Republican opponent, a Roman Catholic

Go figure