New York's Bill Owens Becomes Latest Addition To House Democratic Caucus

November 6, 2009 2:17 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - New York's 23rd Congressional District was officially represented by a Democrat for the first time in nearly two decades on Friday, when Bill Owens was sworn into office.

Owens took the oath administered by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) after noon. He is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama at the Oval Office later that day. The 60-year-old succeeds John McHugh, a Republican who resigned in September to accept the appointment as secretary of the Army.

A business law professor and a partner at a Plattsburgh-based law firm, Owens won the special election in the largely Republican district on Tuesday, defeating the candidate of the Conservative Party of New York, Doug Hoffman. The race gained national attention for the apparent split between conservatives and GOP leaders, who had chosen state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, a moderate, as their nominee.

Scozzafava withdrew from the race over the weekend, citing her sudden drop in polls amid continued conservative criticisms, and subsequently endorsed Owens. She enjoyed a wide lead early on in the race, but she suffered criticisms for her support for abortion and gay marriage, and the loss of key endorsements to her Republican rival.

Owens' oath-taking comes a day after another Democrat was sworn into office: former California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi for the seat of Ellen Tauscher, who resigned earlier this year to become Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

Both newly-minted congressmen will take part in the debate on Saturday on the Democratic healthcare proposal. They are also expected to vote for the bill, which proponents hope to pass before Congress breaks for its Veteran's Day recess next week.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in her weekly press briefing on Thursday said the two additions to her caucus were a clear signal of support for their reform proposal because the Democratic healthcare agenda had been attacked in both races. "Two more votes for quality, affordable healthcare," the Speaker said.

The House seat for the 23rd Congressional District was one of five vacancies that opened when the Obama assumed office. Democrats, who hold a 258-vote majority in the 435-member chamber, have retained all seats. Apart from Owens and Garamendi, Rep. Scott Murphy (D-NY) succeeded Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) earlier this year, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) won the seat of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) took the seat of Labor Sec. Hilda Solis.