Story Published:
Nov 4, 2009 at 9:05 AM EDT
Story Updated:
Nov 4, 2009 at 10:04 AM EDT
As the election results continue to be counted, Democratic candidate Bill Owens is now being called the congressman elect.
Jeff Nelson says that while the numbers were tight, Democrats were cautiously optimistic through the night, wary of a surging Hoffman campaign.
Hoffman was riding a tide of national attention and funding, with the last Siena Poll stating he was ahead by 41 percent.
Plans for Hoffman's victory were huge, with many in his party expecting hundreds of supporters through the night.
Yet, Alexandra Field says that by the end of the evening, a somber crowd of 70 or so were somber as numbers came in and Hoffman conceded the race.
"The life of the (Hoffman) campaign was sucked out very quickly."
Theories abound this morning as to what caused Hoffman's loss, with many pointing the finger to Dede Scozzafava dropping her bid and throwing her support to Bill Owens.
Scozzafava still received over 7,000 votes, but whether those votes were protest votes or just those not aware that she was no longer fighting for the seat is not known.
However, State Democratic Party Representative June O'Neill said that with Owens' victory, it speaks volumes to the nation that the 23rd district does not buy into the right wing ideologies that were present during the campaigns.
"The right wing of the Conservative Party and all those people coming in from places around the country who never heard of (the 23rd district)...they're going to find a giant 'Not For Sale' sign on the front yard of everybody in the 23rd Congressional District."
Bill Owens will be the first Democrat sent to represent the 23rd District in Congress in more than 150 years (since 1852).
What remains to be seen is whether or not the race will effect the 2010 election and how the Republicans may choose their next candidate.
The National Republican Committee says that perhaps a primary is necessary, but local Republican Committee chairs say that they will stand by the option for country chairs to choose their candidates.
