With Craig Johnson’s victory, speculation will heat up over Democrats’ apparent plans to try to persuade a pair of Republican Senators to flip across the aisle. The two most commonly mentioned candidates are Joseph Robach of Rochester and John Bonacic of Orange Country.

Robach is a former Assembly Democrat, who, as Rochester Turning has described, was lured into the Republican camp at least in part by Joe Bruno’s promises of member-item money. He knocked out Democratic Senate incumbent Richard Dollinger, in a challenge he claimed was motivated by a dispute with Shelly Silver over redistricting in his Assembly District. But the prospect of $5 million a year in discretionary funds probably didn’t hurt either.

Bonacic, of course, was a very lonely Republican voice calling for Joe Bruno to step down as majority leader, considering all those FBI investigations and so on. Credit where due: Bonacic went out on a limb, and now there’s no guarantee that Bruno won’t try to saw it off.

So let the debate begin. Let’s be clear: we want the Senate. We’re not pie-in-the-sky idealists in the NY netroots; we know how important it is for the well-being of New Yorkers to have a Democratic Senate at last, and we know how tough it is to take out incumbents. We’ve been there.

Important developments in the race to face 19th CD incumbent Sue Kelly over the last week showed lots of added steam to the campaign of folk-rock performer John Hall and some to another of his Democratic Party Rivals.

John Hall was endorsed by Jim Martorano, the Yorktown democrat who dropped out of the race four weeks ago. Jim M’s supporters in Westchester and Yorktown may give Hall an assist there. Democracy for Westchester also endorsed Hall. Most importantly, the New York State United Teachers which represents public school teachers in the district endorsed hall today. If the teachers and hospital workers really put effort into their Hall endorsements, that will multiply his already extensive resources. Finally -- folk and rock performers who support Hall will participate in a NYC Town Hall fundraising Concert on August 20, 2006. Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle and Nanci Griffith (See the Events Notice, for more details).

Judy Aydelott, who has had the lead in fundraising among the Democrats, has been hosting free community dinners around the District in which voter dissatisfaction with Sue Kelly has been the subject of discussion. Aydellot, an attorney and Iraq war opponent was formerly a Republican.

Update on Petitions and Endorsements in the 19th CD race to replace Sue Kelly.

1) Judy Aydelott has been endorsed by the National Women’s Political Caucus and by Emily’s List.

Her campaign stated that it filed petitions containing 3,554 signatures and that the Hall campaign had filed a “general” challenge to her petitions.

2) John Hall was endorsed by the County Democratic Committees of Orange, Duchess and Rockland counties; The American Federation of Musicians and its Local 802 (orchestra, theatre, club and studio musicians); Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (skilled electricians); United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 (supermarket and grocery store employees); and the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 1. (stage hands etc.) in addition to SEIU 1199

His campaign said it filed more than 4200 signatures on designating petitions.

3) Darren Rigger’s campaign stated that it filed 1,871 signatures and that it expected a “general" challenge to its petitions as well.

4) Ben Schuldiner’s campaign stated it had been endorsed by Vassar College Democrats (a 500-member group) and that the campaign had filed petitions containing more than 2,800 signatures.

The 2nd quarter fundraising reports for candidates has just been released. As part of a coordinated look at NY state seats in play (for list of other blogs, see the end of this post), this report concerns the effort to retire Sue Kelly, the Republican House member from the 19th Congressional District (Northern Westchester, Putnam, Duchess, Orange and Rockland counties) See Map:

http://www.judy4congress.com/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=vie...

Kelly a key Bush ally and long time partisan of the War in Iraq, has voting record rated at 13% for a Grade of F from the Drum Major Institute http://www.drummajorinstitute.com/congress/outerenvelope_house.htm and for votes for the “USA Patriot Act and others, her opposition to civil liberties has earned her a life-time score of 21% from the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Freedom Scorecard http://action.aclu.org/site/VoteCenter?page=voteList .

Kelly won re-election in 2004 easily, even though New Yorkers voted for Kerry:

U.S. House -- New York District 19
Updated 11/24/04 1:59 AM ET
Precincts:100% Incumbent* declared winner

Candidates Votes %

Sue W. Kelly * (R)
164,356 67