2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: Difference between revisions

The '''2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York''' were held on November 4th4, 2008, to elect the 29 [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representatives]] from the [[New York (state)|State of New York]], one from each of the state's 29 [[New York's congressional districts|congressional districts]]. [[U.S. state|state]] of [[New York (state)|New York]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. New York has 29 seats in the House, apportioned according to the [[2000 United States Censuscensus]]. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the [[111th United States Congress|111th Congress]] from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the [[2008 United States Presidential election|2008 U.S. presidential election]] in which Democrat [[Barack Obama]] defeated Republican [[John McCain]] by a wide margin.

The Democratic Party gained three seats in New York's congressional delegation in the 2008 elections. In New York's 13th congressional district, Democrat [[Michael McMahon]] defeated Robert Straniere to win the seat vacated by Republican Rep. [[Vito Fossella]]. In New York's 25th congressional district, Democrat [[Dan Maffei]] defeated Republican Dale Sweetland to win the seat vacated by Republican Rep. [[James T. Walsh|Jim Walsh]]. In New York's 29th congressional district, Democrat [[Eric Massa]] defeated incumbent Republican Rep. [[Randy Kuhl]].<ref name="web.archive.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2008/General/USCongress08.pdf |title=NYS Board of Elections Rep. in Congress Election Returns Nov. 4, 2008 |website=www.elections.ny.gov |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004220636/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2008/General/USCongress08.pdf |archive-date=4 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Beginning in 2009, New York's congressional delegation consisted of a lopsided 26 Democrats and 3 Republicans. In the history of New York state politics, this represents the best performance by any one party, as a proportion of total seats, in state history. Republicans suffered in the outfall of the financial crisis, but regained seats in the following elections.

| percentage1 = '''5458.38%'''

| map_caption = County results<br>'''BishopIsrael:''' {{legend0|#678cd7|60-70%}} {{legend0|#416fcd|70-80%}}

| nominee1 = '''[[Carolyn McCartyMcCarthy]]'''

The 5th district is based on the Nassau North Shore and Flushing portion of Queens County, including Manhorhaven, Kings Point, Great Neck, East Hills, Corona, and parts of JamaciaJamaica, in Nassau and Queens counties. Due to redistricting, the district was compacted and shifted towards Queens, losing most of its territory on the North Shore, including portions of the cities of Smithtown and Huntington as well as territory in the surrounding communities. The 5th district has a PVI of D+30 but voted for [[Barack Obama]] by 27 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Gary Ackerman]], who was reelected with 100.00% of the vote in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2006/general/2006_cong.pdf|title=11/7/06 - House of Representatives|date=February 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221010925/http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2006/general/2006_cong.pdf |archive-date=February 21, 2008 }}</ref> On election day Ackerman defeated [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee Elizabeth Berney.

Gillibrand faced Republican Sandy Treadwell, former Secretary of State for New York.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sandytreadwell.com/accomplishments/Default.aspx |title = Sandy Treadwell for Congress |access-date=October 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008195532/http://www.sandytreadwell.com/accomplishments/default.aspx |archive-date=October 8, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On October 10, 2008, the [https://web.archive.org/web/20081017090511/http://www.cookpolitical.com/house?toState=NY Cook Report] listed the 20th District as "Likely Democratic". Gillibrand won the November 4, 2008, election with 62% of the vote to Treadwell's 38%.

| before_election = [[PaulMichael TonkoMcNulty]]

The 24th district is based in central New York and parts of the Finger Lakes region, including Rome, Utica, Oneonta, Norwich, Auburn, and parts of Binghamton. It includes all of Herkimer, Cortland, Chenango, and Seneca counties and parts of Tompkins, Tioga, Broome, Ontario, Otsego, and Oneida counties. Due to redistricting, the district was renumbered from the 23rd to the 24th and changed large amounts of territory, gaining the entirety of Cortland, Herkimer, and Seneca Counties. The district lost all of its territory in Schoharie, Delaware, and Montgomery counties and lost portions of Oneida county north of the city of Rome. The district now has territory stretching into western New York, gaining portions of Cayuga, Tioga, Tompkins, and Ontario counties. The 24th district has a PVI of R+11 but voted for [[Barack Obama]] by 3 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Michael Arcuri]], who was elected with 53.95% of the vote in 2006.<ref name="auto1"/> On election day, Arcuri defeated [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee [[Richard L. Hanna|Richard HannahHanna]].

| image2 = [[File:NoRandy imageKuhl official photo.svgpng|120px]]

Eric Massa was the Democratic nominee in 2006. He attended the [[United States Naval Academy|U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis]] and went on to serve in the Navy for 24 years. He eventually served as aide to former [[NATO]] Supreme Allied Commander, General [[Wesley Clark]]. Near the end of his Navy career he was diagnosed with [[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma]], a disease he was able to survive. A [http://senorswanky.blogspot.com/2005/08/eric-massa-for-congress-another.html former Republican], he claims he left his party over the issue of the [[Iraq War]] and campaigned in New Hampshire during the campaign of his former-boss, [[Wesley Clark]]'s, failed presidential bid. During the 2006 campaign, Massa positioned himself as strongly opposed to the Iraq war and unrestricted "[[free trade]]," favoring instead "[[fair trade]]". Other issues in his platform included expanding farm aid programs, as well as bringing homeland security money to the 29th District. Massa is also active in Band of Brothers/[[Veterans for a Secure America]] whose goal is to help veterans who are running for Congress as Democrats. Massa has recently worked as a "business consultant" for [http://www.stratsight.com Strategic Insight], a defense consulting firm in [[Alexandra (city), Virginia|Alexandra, Virginia]]. Massa, [http://www.fighting29th.com/2007/06/massas_wednesday_press_confere.html during a press conference in June, 2007], stated that he has since "curtailed all other activities in April (2007) when he became an active candidate". Massa lives in [[Corning (city), New York|Corning, New York]], with his wife Beverly, daughter Alexandra and son Justin. His eldest son Richard lives in California.