Behind closed doors, in the proverbial smoke-filled room, Democratic Party county chairs have selected their candidate to endorse for NY 21: documentary film-maker and part-time resident of Elizabethtown NY (and part-time resident of NYC)Aaron Woolf. He is best known for the documentary King Corn . I don't know much about him, and I am guessing few others in NY 21 do either. He has served on the board of the Adirondack Council - in NY 21 this may lose him more votes than win. Here is the first report: Democrats pick Essex County filmmaker Aaron Woolf as 21st Congressional candidate
He looks to be a genuine Progressive, which should be a good thing. That is if he can win this center-right district.
In the Republican smoke- filled room, they selected virtual non-resident to NY 21 Elise Stefanik (Stefanik endorsed by county GOP leaders for 21st Congressional District ). She would appear to have no appeal to this district. Indeed, Republicans overwhelmingly prefer the last candidate to lose to Bill Owens, Matt Doheny.
This is going to be a weird contest. I am guessing that if it ends up Woolf vs. Stefanik, a lot of outside money and interest will come our way. It will be a tossup, with a conservative unknown with weak ties to the district, no experience in political office but lots of friends elsewhere against a progressive unknown with weak ties to the district, no experience in political office but lots of friends elsewhere .
The question I have is what spooked Darrel Aubertine (or the party bosses about him)? He would seem a shoe-in to beat Stefanik, and he is now doing a place-holder state appointee job, which he hasn't been happy with. He is just the kind of center-right congressman this district likes, in the mold of Bill Owens or John McHugh. Although the bench is shallow, there is a bench of Democrats with the experience and popularity to run, but they all deferred. Strange.