DNC Chair Kaine:
Washington, DC -- DNC Chairman Tim Kaine praised Democrat Scott Murphy's victory over Republican Jim Tedisco in the special election for New York's 20th Congressional District, calling his win in a heavily Republican leaning district a demonstration of broad support for President Obama's leadership and the President's efforts to turn the economy around and create jobs.
"Scott Murphy's long-awaited victory is proof positive that Americans, even in this heavily Republican district, support the President and want him to succeed and the result is a repudiation of the failed policies of the past touted by Republicans," said Kaine. "Republicans decided to make this race a referendum on President Obama's leadership of the economy and his jobs and economic recovery plan - and given the result we are thankful that they did. Scott Murphy embraced President Obama's approach to the economy and his message of change while his opponent embraced the politics of division and the failed economic policies that got our country into the mess we find ourselves in today. While the Republican Party and its candidates appear to have learned nothing from recent elections and the nation's obvious desire for change, I commend the voters in New York 20 for supporting Scott and giving the President another strong ally for change as the Obama Administration moves forward with its plans to reform healthcare, invest in clean energy and improve education."
In the run-up to Election Day, Scott Murphy trailed Republican Jim Tedisco, the well known Minority Leader of New York State Assembly, by as much as 21 points, but came from behind in a heavily Republican district to secure a victory.
Since the beginning, the race to replace former Representative Kirsten Gillibrand has been a referendum on President Obama's plans for the economy including passage of the President's $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Murphy strongly supported the ARRA while Tedisco for weeks refused to say how he would have voted. Tedisco eventually was forced to say he would have opposed the President's jobs and economic recovery package - legislation which is popular in New York 20 and across the country and which is already showing signs of success in saving and creating jobs.
President Obama formally endorsed Murphy in an email to supporters in and around New York 20 the week prior to election day, encouraging thousands of residents in the area to volunteer on behalf of Murphy. The President sent another note to tens of thousands of supporters in New York 20 on election eve urging them to go to the polls and vote for Murphy. Vice President Biden recorded a radio ad on Murphy's behalf as well automated phones calls used to help turn out voters in the area for Murphy.
Following the President's endorsement, the DNC ran a television ad in the Albany market touting the President's support of Murphy and urging voters to turn out to the polls. The DNC also recruited volunteers for phone banks run out of DNC headquarters, assisted the campaign with its micro-targeting of voters, and Governor Kaine directed the committee's major donors to contribute to the Murphy campaign.
While Republicans made the race a referendum on the President's leadership, they also made it a priority in their efforts to rebuild the GOP after two consecutive electoral drubbings. RNC Chairman Michael Steele invested heavily in the race, said it was a "focal point" and that it was a district Republicans should win. The loss is a blow to both the GOP's strategy of "just saying no" to President Obama's popular and successful economic policies, but is also a huge blow to Steele and the GOP which made NY 20 the "focal point" of the party's effort to mount an electoral comeback.
DCCC Chair Van Hollen:
"Congratulations to Congressman-elect Scott Murphy on his remarkable, come-from-behind victory. In this election, voters responded to Scott Murphy's record as a successful businessman who helped to create more than 1,000 jobs and his strong support for President Obama's economic recovery package.
"In trying to win the NY-20 special election, the RNC, NRCC, and their Republican allies went all in on the losing gamble that voters would prefer their 'just say no' approach to President Obama's bold plans to get the economy back on track.
"Scott Murphy's victory in this district where Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 70,000 represents a rejection of the obstructionist agenda and scare tactics that have become the hallmark of House Republicans.
"With his commitment to reaching across the aisle to help President Obama enact his agenda for change, Scott Murphy will be a tremendous asset to our Democratic Caucus."
"I am grateful to President Obama, Vice President Biden, House Democratic Leaders, Governor Paterson, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, the entire New York Congressional Delegation, and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine for their work on behalf of and support of Scott Murphy."
Working Families Party:
20th Congressional District -- The Working Families Party congratulated Congressman-elect Scott Murphy today after news that his opponent Jim Tedisco had conceded the race. The progressive minor party made a major effort on Murphy's behalf, knocking on nearly 20,000 doors to talk to voters in the district and unofficially providing 3,816 votes for Murphy on its ballot line - nearly 10 times his expected margin of victory.
"There's no doubt, we couldn't have done it without them," said Scott Murphy. "The Working Families Party is a tireless advocate for New York's working people, and no one knows better than them how to energize voters on the issues that matter."
In the run-up to Election Day, WFP organizers marched through the district, talking to thousands of voters about Murphy's commitment to solving the healthcare crisis, creating jobs, and putting the economy back on track.
"As thousands of New Yorkers are at risk of losing their jobs or their homes, Scott Murphy ran on a clear message of putting our economy back on track and rebuilding the middle-class," said Dan Cantor, Working Families Party Executive Director. "He's got the energy and commitment it takes to lead in Washington."
Working Families Party affiliates--including the UAW Regions 9 and 9A, Citizen Action, SEIU 1199, and the Communications Workers of America--pitched in too, providing hundreds of volunteer shifts knocking on doors and calling thousands of union members who live in the district.
The Murphy victory is the 5th in recent years where votes on the Working Families ballot line have been the margin of victory for a Congressional candidate, following the wins of Tim Bishop in 2002, Brian Higgins in 2004, and Eric Massa and Michael Arcuri in 2008.
The WFP received over 210,000 votes across the state on its ballot line - "Row E" - for its Congressional candidates this past November. |
