Democrat Takes Special Election In New York's 23rd Congressional District

November 4, 2009 7:26 a.m. EST

Plattsburgh, NY (AHN) - Democrat Bill Owens has won the special election in the largely Republican 23rd congressional district of New York, defeating the candidate of the Conservative Party of New York, Doug Hoffman. The race was notable for the division between conservatives and GOP leaders, who had chosen state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, a moderate, over Hoffman.

Hoffman, a Lake Placid accountant, conceded with 46,746 votes against his rival's 50,712 votes.

"Despite the election results, I am optimistic for our future, because now I know that I am not alone in wanting to repair our great nation," he said in a message to supporters. "Throughout this campaign I have been inspired by the outpouring of support and the intensity of that support."

"I urge that no one feel defeated, for this was only one of many elections. We came close, we put our agenda in front of the nation and the nation took notice," Hoffman, who had endorsements from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Sen. Fred Thompson, added. "Next year there are other elections and other candidates who have drawn inspiration from our efforts."

The 60-year-old Owens, meanwhile, held a victory party in Plattsburg, but extended an olive branch to Hoffman by saying in his speech, "I want to thank to Doug Hoffman on his campaign. I look forward to working with him and his supporters in the months ahead to work together as New Yorkers to find solutions to the challenges we face together."

"The voters in this election sent the message loud and clear," he also said. "When it comes to getting our economy moving again, to creating good-paying jobs for our workers, to ending tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas, and for making Upstate New York a leader in producing clean energy, they put aside partisanship and declared they're ready to move forward, not backward."

Owens, who headed into election day trailing in polls but had Vice President Joe Biden on the trail for him, gave "special thanks" to Scozzafava, who withdrew from the race over the weekend, citing her sudden drop in polls amid continued conservative criticisms, and subsequently endorsed the Democratic candidate.

"I was honored to earn the support of a great leader like her. She has always put the people of Upstate New York before any partisan agenda," Owens said.

The race mirrored what pundits had called a national struggle between moderates and members of the right wing, whom Democrats have warned are "taking over" the GOP.

A business law professor and partner at the law firm Stafford, Owens, Piller, Murnane, & Trombley, Owens takes the seat of former Rep. John McHugh, a Republican who resigned to accept the appointment of President Barack Obama as secretary of the Army.