State Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco is preparing a run for Kirsten Gillibrand’s soon to be vacated seat in the 20th Congressional District as she moves on to Senate.
He is exploring it, said Jim Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for Tedisco. `He loves being Assembly leader, loves being an assemblyman,` but would also love to work for New Yorkers from Washington.
Tedisco, who represents the 110th Assembly District, comprised mostly of the Schenectady area, has been in conversations with Republican Party officials within the large 20th District. In New York, you do not have to live in a Congressional District to make a bid there, though Tedisco does own a home in Saratoga Springs.
Governor David Paterson announced that he will appoint Gillibrand to Hillary Clinton’s vacated Senate seat at a noontime press conference today. It will be up to Paterson to set a date for a special election, and it could be soon.
`This is a sprint, said Fitzpatrick, `it could be a six to eight week period.`
The 20th was a longtime Republican stronghold, until Gillibrand upset four-term incumbent John Sweeney in 2006. With Gillibrand moving on, party leaders hope that the GOP can rise again in the right leaning district.
Republican Roy McDonald, who won control of the 43rd Senate District in November, released a statement today announcing that he will not be seeking the vacated seat.
`In enjoy what I do in my capacity as state senator and as a result, I am not a candidate for the 20th Congressional District,` said McDonald.
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