2010 New York's 29th congressional district elections

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2010 New York's 29th congressional district election
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←  2008 November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02)2012 →
  Tom Reed.jpg Matthew Zeller.jpg
Nominee Tom Reed Matthew Zeller
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote94,209 (special)
101,209 (general)		73,513 (special)
78,578 (general)
Percentage56%44%
2010 United States House of Representatives Special Election in New York's 29th Congressional District.svg
County results
Reed:      50–60%     60–70%
Representative before election

Eric Massa
Democratic

Elected Representative

Tom Reed
Republican

Two elections in New York's 29th district were held on November 2, 2010. The candidates vied to replace Eric Massa, who resigned the seat on March 8, 2010, as a result of health issues and allegations of sexual harassment.

Contents

The Governor called for a special election to be held simultaneously with the general election on the same day, with the special election determining who would complete the remainder of Massa's unexpired term in the 111th United States Congress (from November 2010 to January 2011) and the general election determining who would serve in the 112th United States Congress.

Republican Thomas W. Reed Jr., the former mayor of Corning, New York, defeated Democrat Matthew Zeller and write-in candidate Janice Volk.

Background

Democrat Eric J. Massa won this district by 1.8 percentage points in 2008 over then-two-term incumbent John "Randy" Kuhl. The district leaned Republican (CPVI R+5), supported John McCain over Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election by a 51–48 margin, and—accounting for redistricting—had been held by a Republicans for almost a century, except for Democrat Stan Lundine's time representing the area in the 1970s and 1980s. [1] At the time of his resignation, Massa had raised over $600,000 in campaign funds. [2] The NRCC targeted Massa for voting in favor of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. [3]

On March 3, 2010, following allegations of sexual harassment and reports that he had suffered a recurrence of cancer, Massa announced that he would retire at the end of his term. Massa later announced his resignation effective March 8. [4]

On April 23, 2010, Steuben County Republican chairman Bill Hatch announced that he would file a lawsuit that, if successful, would force Governor David Paterson to acknowledge the vacancy and call a special election in the immediate future. [5] Clause I.2.4 of the U.S. Constitution requires the governor of a state to issue a "writ of election" for any congressional vacancy. The judge hearing the case denied a motion from the Paterson administration to dismiss the lawsuit on May 13. [6]

On May 12, 2010, Paterson announced that he would set the special election for November 2, 2010, and would not issue the required writ of election until October. Paterson's decision resulted in the general election and the special election occurring on the same day, with the winner of the special election serving until January 2011 and the winner of the general election serving from January 2011 until 2013. Furthermore, the redundant election complicated the primary election process; it was theoretically possible for either Reed or Zeller to be defeated in the primary election in mid-September, but to then remain on the ballot for the special election. [7] In addition, state law dictates that special elections cannot be held for vacancies acknowledged after July 1, except in special circumstances. [8] Following the announcement, Angelo Campini, who was challenging Reed in the primary election, stated that he would consider joining the lawsuit or filing one of his own over the date of the election if it resulted in him being pushed off the ballot. [9]

Judge David Larimer issued a ruling in the case on June 4, 2010, officially acknowledging the vacancy but declining to compel Paterson to call a special election before November 2. [10] The plaintiffs considered an appeal, but decided against it. [11]

Candidates

Democratic party

The Democratic Party chose Matthew Zeller, a 28-year-old CIA analyst who had not lived in New York since he had left for war, as their candidate. Zeller was an ROTC-trained Army officer who served in Afghanistan and holds master's degrees in international relations and public administration. [12]

Nominee

  • Matthew Zeller, former CIA analyst and Afghanistan veteran [12]

Not running

  • John Batiste, retired Major General [13]
  • Sandra Frankel, town supervisor of Brighton, former lieutenant governor candidate [14]
  • Mike Green, Monroe County District Attorney [15]
  • Shawn Hogan, mayor of Hornell [16]
  • David Koon, assemblyman [17]
  • Barbara Lifton, assemblywoman from Ithaca [18] [19]
  • Michael McCormick, former Allegany County legislator, instead ran for State Senate and lost [20]
  • David Nachbar, Massa's 2008 primary opponent, Bausch & Lomb executive (speculated), instead ran for Assembly and lost to Sean Hanna [21]
  • Ellen Polimeni, mayor of Canandaigua [21]
  • David Rose, teacher in the Henrietta-Rush School District [22]
  • John Tonello, mayor of Elmira (speculated) [23]
  • Mary Wilmot, regional director for the Paterson administration, heir to the Wilmorite fortune, instead ran for State Senate and lost [21] [24]

Republican party

Nominee

Not running or eliminated

  • Angelo Campini, pizza shop owner from Henrietta [26] Failed to deliver petitions to get onto the primary ballot. [27] After proposing a write-in campaign, Campini bowed out on September 30, 2010, endorsing Reed. [28]
  • Janice Volk, Cuba resident, alpaca farmer and black conservative community activist [29] [30] Submitted 1,400 signatures to secure primary ballot, but those petitions were challenged. [31] Though Volk later announced plans to seek a third-party line, [32] she was unable to do so. Volk remained in the race through a write-in campaign. [33]
  • Maggie Brooks, county executive of Monroe County [34]
  • Brian Kolb, Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly [35]
  • Randy Kuhl, former congressman and state senator [36]
  • Catharine Young, state senator [37]

Independence Party

Conservative Party

Working Families Party

Campaign fundraising

At the time of Massa's resignation, the lone announced candidate, Tom Reed, had approximately $120,000 cash on hand. [2] According to Reed, "in our last report, we raised $233,000." [40]

As of the first quarter of 2010, Reed has raised $481,879 [41] and had $287,222 cash on hand. [26]

As of July 2010, Volk had not yet raised enough funds to need to file with the Federal Election Commission, which would indicate less than $5,000 in fundraising and/or spending. [42] Reed raised $686,449 by that point, approximately $100,000 from his own account, while Zeller had raised $137,885. [43]

As of September 2010, Reed had raised $809,464 and had $361,315 in cash on hand. Zeller raised $232,425 and had $50,418 in cash on hand. [44]

With Reed heavily favored, he donated $75,000 of his campaign money to the National Republican Congressional Committee and the New York Senate Republican Committee less than one week before the election. [45]

Endorsements

Tom Reed

Matthew Zeller

Janice Volk

Polling

Poll SourceDate(s)
administered		Tom Reed (R)Matthew Zeller (D)Undecided
Siena poll [46] September 21, 201044%30%26%
We Ask America poll [47] April 20, 201041%24%35%

Results

Reed won both elections [48] [49] by margins of 56%-44%. Reed, for the first time since Amo Houghton in 2002, won every county in the district. However, he lost his home city of Corning, as well as the city of Hornell. [50] All write-ins, including (but not exclusively) Volk's, totaled 527 votes for the general and 510 for the special, less than 0.3% of the vote. [48] [49]

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References

Specific
  1. ↑ "Local Republicans may have had big hand in Massa success". Olean Times Herald. November 6, 2008.
  2. 1 2 Miller, Rick (March 5, 2010). Democrats left surprised, GOP sees opening. Olean Times Herald.
  3. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth. NRCC Hits NY Dems On Stimulus Archived June 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . New York Daily News. February 12, 2009.
  4. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (March 3, 2010). Dem Source: Massa Won't Run (Updatedx2) Archived March 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine . New York Daily News: The Daily Politics.
  5. ↑ "Hatch: Lawsuit To Force Special Election For Massa Seat". Canisteo Valley News. April 23, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  6. ↑ Judge denies Paterson 's attempt to get special election case thrown out of court. WLEA. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  7. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (May 12, 2010). Paterson: I'll Call a Special Election in NY-29 Archived April 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  8. ↑ Vielkind, Jimmy (May 13, 2010). Elections board: not sure if NY-29 special is legal. Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  9. ↑ "Angelo Campini Might Sue The Governor Over Special Election Date". Canisteo Valley News. May 13, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Judge Sides With Paterson On NY-29 Special". Capitaltonight.com. June 4, 2010. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  11. ↑ Dunning, Joe (June 5, 2010). "Judge rules on special election - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader". The-leader.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  12. 1 2 Today (September 11, 2001). "NY-29: Dems Pick Zeller as Candidate - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events". 13WHAM.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  13. ↑ Miller, Rick (March 21, 2010). Congressional candidates will be interviewed this week. Olean Times Herald. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  14. ↑ Dunning, Joe (March 10, 2010). "Winner: Paterson to call special election - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader". The-leader.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  15. ↑ Today. "Dems Approach Green About Replacing Massa - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events". 13WHAM.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Hornell mayor will not pursue Massa's seat". www.WHEC.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Assemblyman David Koon Drops Out of Congressional Race". Canisteo Valley News. April 1, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  18. ↑ http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20100305/NEWS01/3050393/1126/news/Li [ dead link ]
  19. ↑ http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20100308/NEWS01/3080369 [ dead link ]
  20. ↑ "Democrats interview potential candidates for 29th district". RocNow.com. March 29, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  21. 1 2 3 Today. "NY-29 BLOG: Here's What I'm Hearing (UPDATE) - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events". 13WHAM.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  22. ↑ "News - Gov. Paterson not expected to call special election to fill vacant seat". Olean Times Herald. April 4, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  23. ↑ Briggs, Tyler (March 7, 2010). "With Massa gone, what's next? - Hornell, NY - Hornell Evening Tribune". Eveningtribune.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Gov. won't call election yet | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle". www.democratandchronicle.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  25. ↑ Hohmann, James. "Paterson sets date for N.Y. 29 special". POLITICO.
  26. 1 2 Zremski, Jerry (April 21, 2010). House in disrepute but area incumbents have little to fear. The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  27. ↑ Tim M. (view) (July 16, 2010). "Candidates' petitions were due Thursday for major parties". Voteup.democratandchronicle.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  28. ↑ Briggs, Tyler (September 29, 2010). Pizzeria owner drops out of race Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Hornell Evening Tribune. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  29. ↑ Briggs, Tyler (May 26, 2010). Allegany Co. woman enters race for 29th district Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Evening Tribune (Hornell, NY). Retrieved 2010-05-30.
  30. ↑ Miller, Rick (June 13, 2010). Volk launches bid for Congress. Olean Times Herald. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  31. ↑ "Janice Volk's Political Petition Objected To". Canisteo Valley News. July 20, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  32. ↑ Briggs, Tyler (August 5, 2010). "Despite petition challenge, Volk vows to soldier on - Hornell, NY - Hornell Evening Tribune". Eveningtribune.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  33. ↑ Briggs, Tyler. "No "Tea" party - Hornell, NY - Hornell Evening Tribune". Eveningtribune.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  34. ↑ Seiler, Casey (March 12, 2010). http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/23686/monroe-countys-brooks/. Capitol Confidential. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  35. ↑ Frisch, Kevin and Julie Sherwood (March 3, 2010). With Massa out, Republicans rethinking 29th district race Archived September 6, 2012, at archive.today . Canandaigua Messenger Post.
  36. ↑ "Kuhl decides against run for Massa seat". Wivb.com. March 10, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  37. ↑ Young Responds to Massa Resignation. WGRZ. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
  38. ↑ Tim Kolpien (July 14, 2010). "Reed Campaign to File More Than 820 Petitions Containing Over 10,500 Signatures". Tom Reed For Congress. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  39. ↑ "Challenges To Tom Reed's Petition Defeated". Canisteo Valley News. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  40. ↑ Recotta, Bob (March 11, 2010). "Support for Reed expands - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader". The-leader.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  41. ↑ "Buffalo, NY | Democrat Matt Zeller Running for Massa's Old Seat in Congress". wgrz.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  42. ↑ Terreri, Jill (July 12, 2010). Loaded field for Eric Massa's old seat Archived July 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine . Gannett News Service. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  43. ↑ Tumulty, Brian (July 18, 2010). Tom Reed has a large lead in cash in 29th Congressional District Archived July 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Gannett News Service. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  44. ↑ Briggs, Tyler (September 9, 2010). Money draws mud fight in race for Congress Archived September 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine . Hornell Evening Tribune. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  45. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (October 29, 2010). Reed's largesse Archived August 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . State of Politics. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
  46. ↑ "NY-29: Tom Reed Leads Matt Zeller, but Many Still Undecided". New York Daily News . Archived from the original on October 15, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  47. ↑ "New York's State of Mind…at least in the 29th District : weaskamerica.com". weaskamerica.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  48. 1 2 "2010 Special Election Results, New York's 29th Congressional District" (PDF). NYS Board of Elections. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  49. 1 2 "2010 Recertified New York General Election Results, U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). NYS Board of Elections. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Reed, Zeller score results on other's home turf - Hornell, NY - Hornell Evening Tribune". Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2010.[ dead link ]
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