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So who's all running?
People can be forgiven if they lose track of who exactly is running for which office in the newly fluid political environment of the state of New York.
In the Third Senatorial District, you have to assume that Jimmy Dahroug, the grassroots Democrat running against Caesar Trunzo, is tearing his hair out over a primary challenger that emerged last night, literally at the last minute. Per Albany Project, Brian Foley of Brookhaven declared for the seat last night at the Suffolk County Democratic Convention.
Speaker Sheldon Silver is getting challenged in the Democratic primary this year, itself an event of significance far beyond the borders of that district; now, of course, and perhaps due to a filtering down from the heights of the Presidential race, there's an irritating conversation going on as to which one of the two challengers, Paul Newell or Luke Henry, is more "electable".
In the Twenty-Fifth Senate District, we're seeing another generational contest between challenger Dan Squadron and incumbent Marty Connor, who for whichever reason seems to be a perennial target. There are many interesting things about the contrast between the two contenders, but chief among them is perhaps the hope-inducing interest in the State Senate among some really smart, young and energetic people now eyeing races against incumbents. If the Democrats retake the chamber, the Senate will instantly be transformed from a political backwater to the bleeding edge of New York political power, as far as Democrats are concerned. Squadron is many good things, not least among them a harbinger.
In the Thirteenth District of New York, Democrat Steve Harrison remains alone in his quest to represent that district in Congress, with the usual suspects bowing out; Diane Savino to focus on retaking the State Senate, Dominic Recchia to do something or other that placeholders do, incumbent Vito Fossella to care for his families, Andrew Lanza flirting with a run, and various others fluttering in and out of the conversation as time passes. In that district, republicans are caught in a cleft stick of their own cutting; their strongest candidate, Lanza, represents a Democratic-leaning district in the tottering State Senate majority. Harrison is probably in the pole position for this race, with the huge and glaring caveat that everything now hinges on his ability to raise a lot of money very quickly.
In the Twenty-Sixth District, netroots candidate Jon Powers is running strongly against Lou-Dobbsian Jack Davis, with one Alize Kryzan rounding out the field. If Powers prevails in the primary, this becomes a top-tier contest; but before that, one has the uneasy suspicion that this might turn into a smaller remake of the Obama/Clinton battle between generations, ideologies, and genders.
In the Twenty-First District, there's a literal cast of thousands vying to succeed retiring Representative Mike McNulty.
In the Thirteenth, rumors suggest that a sacrificial lamb might run against incumbent Yvette Clarke. Rumors also suggest that the earth is flat.
And of course, in the City, with term limits dislodging an entire generation of incumbents - why don't we have term limits at the state level? - everyone is running for everything.
Stay tuned.
But wait, there's more!
In the 13th Senate district, Hiram Monserrate is renewing his challenge to John Sabini. Both candidates have been hurt, Sabini from his DUI arrest last year and Monserrate for his part in the "slush-fund scandal," by providing hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to a group that never filed for tax-exempt status and for which several of his staffers worked. Rumor has it (and Bouldin has deftly explained the value of rumors) that some sort of arrangement is being sought to move Sabini back to the City Council, leaving the Senate seat for Monserrate.
In the 15th SD, Albert Baldeo seems to have disappeared lately. Unless he resurfaces, Joe Addabbo will have a clear shot at Serph Maltese.
There may also be someone challenging Jerrold Nadler in the 8th CD. Many progressive groups in the district are angry that Rep. Nadler refuses to move on impeachment, even to the extent of holding hearings. I've heard a couple of possible names mentioned, but nothing definite.
Back to Long Island's 3rd SD, where there will almost certainly be a three-way primary for the Democratic nomination, with Ricardo Montano making another bid. (Note: I called this a month ago here.) It's going to be messy, and didn't have to be, if Foley hadn't entered the race at the last minute. That's a two-way accusation: If Foley had stayed out, there would be no primary; if he had decided, say, six months ago to enter the race (and he was approached by the party machine long before that), it might have been possible to avoid a primary as well, as Dahroug might have been approached in time with some offer to get him to bow out. A meager attempt was made to find something for Dahroug last year, and nothing came of it -- but they didn't have another Democrat running at the time, whereas with Foley in the race early something might have been worked out. Instead, Foley waited until the last minute and then threw his monkey wrench into the works. Timing, as they say in show business, is everything, and Foley's timing is pathetic.
Not so fast
You should take a closer look at Squadron before throwing your unqualified support behind him. I'm taking much of the following from mole's diary on this race from last month, and some from a comment attached to that diary.
Squadron is Chuck Schumer's protege and the "co"-author of his recent book. I believe Schumer may have already publicly endorsed him. According to Connor himself, Schumer is running this young man against him at least in part to settle a political grudge (that Connor backed Gerri Ferraro over Schumer when they ran for the Senate against each other). That may be a good enough reason for Chuck, but I try not to cast my votes over someone else's grudges, and especially not when I'm hoping the someone else gets primaried when the time comes. I don't know about you, but Chuck Schumer is not my favorite Democrat lately, so backing his guy is not a motivation for me.
The conveniently well-off Squadron may not be all that when it comes to progressiveness, either. He's apparently had a meeting with Shelly Silver's chief of staff, where they reached an understanding. Also, that book he wrote with Schumer (did anyone actually read it?) counsels Democrats not to try to pass same-sex marriage laws, because the issue is a political liability.
I'm not a huge Marty Connor fan, but I'm wondering whether Squadron's really the person we want to replace him. I am undecided at this time, but I might be willing to wait through another term to see if a better prospect emerges.
Agreed
I am reluctantly coming to a similar conclusion. Squadron may have the advantage of not being worn down by years in Alabany the way Connor is, and Connor remains bitter about losing the top dog spot among Senate Dems, but Squadron is looking more and more like a Bloomberg Democrat to me. He seems to have a considerable liking for any policy Bloomberg has put forward and he has been part of the Dem faction willing to throw marriage equality under the bus.
Last time around it was a race between Connor and a more prorgessive Democrat. This year it seems to be between Connor and a more conservative Democrat. Is it worth going for a more conservative Dem just to get a younger and more energetic person in there? I remain undecided but am, somewhat to my surprise, open to Connor this year.
And it's not as if
we have no other work to do w/r/t the Senate. I'm thinking I'd rather put my limited resources into achieving that elusive majority, especially now that it seems like we might not be getting so much support in that effort from the Governor.