US House Races

(11/05/08) Congressional Democrats Kirstin Gillibrand and Mike Arcuri held off well-funded opponents. Republican John McHugh also won re-election. Martha Foley has more.

(11/05/08) Martha Foley and Brian Mann analyze yesterday's elections from a state and national perspective.

(11/05/08) Yesterday's stunning election of Democrat Barack Obama realigned the country's politics. But Tuesday's balloting brought equally profound changes to politics here in New York state. Republicans lost control of the state Senate for the first time in decades. The GOP also lost key House races across the state. And Republicans failed to reclaim the 20th congressional district seat which covers much of the North Country. As Brian Mann reports, it's unclear how the GOP will rebuild.

(11/03/08) With key races for Congress and the state Senate coming down to the wire, Brian Mann and David Sommerstein join Martha Foley for a look at the big picture and the regional campaigns.

(10/31/08) In this election season, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have often been eclipsed by the sagging economy. But national security took center stage when Republican incumbent John McHugh and Democratic challenger Mike Oot met for a debate in Plattsburgh. The debate was co-sponsored by Mountain Lake PBS and the League of Women Voters. Moderated by Tom Halleck. The debate was taped on October 21 in Plattsburgh and broadcast last night on Mountain Lake PBS. A repeat broadcast will take place Saturday at 4 p.m.

(10/31/08) John McHugh is seeking his ninth term representing a Congressional District that stretches from Plattsburgh south and west into Madison County. He's been in government since 1975, when he went to work for then state Senator Doug Barclay as a researcher. He was elected to the Senate seat after Barclay retired, and served for eight years until his first run for Congress in 1992. McHugh is considered a moderate. He is solidly anti-abortion, and describes himself as a fiscal conservative. McHugh is a senior member of both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Historically, the 23rd district is solidly Republican territory. But the demographics are changing, and the Republican advantage, while still substantial, is diminishing. This year, McHugh faces a challenge from Democrat Mike Oot, a workers' compensation attorney from Madison County. We spoke with Oot earlier this month. Today we'll hear from John McHugh. Martha Foley started by asking him how Congress has changed during his tenure.

(10/30/08) In this chaotic election year, New York's 20th congressional district has emerged as the most expensive House race in the nation. Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand, who won in an upset two years ago, is spending a huge war-chest to hold a Republican-heavy region of the state. Challenger Sandy Treadwell has poured more than four million dollars of his own money into the contest. As Brian Mann reports, all that cash has finally sparked what looks like a real battle.

NOTE:

After our story aired this morning, the Treadwell campaign contacted North Country Public Radio, responding to a comment made at the rally linking Barack Obama to Osama bin Laden. "We were not aware of anybody making such a comment," said campaign spokesman Peter Constantakes. "We do not agree with such comments and in fact we repudiate them."

(10/29/08) Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand and challenger Sandy Treadwell met for their final debate last night. The hour-long conversation was hosted by the Glens Falls Post-Star and WNYT television. As Brian Mann reports, the pair differed sharply over policy. But both politicians stepped back from the campaign's growing negativity.

(10/24/08) Last night Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand met GOP challenger Sany Treadwell for a debate in their race for New York's 20th Congressional District seat. Susan Arbetter of PBS station WMHT and Rex Smith of the Albany Times Union moderated. Audio courtesy of WMHT.

(10/24/08) Democratic Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican challenger Sandy Treadwell squared off last night. They're fighting to represent the 20th congressional district, which stretches from Saranac Lake to the Hudson Valley. In a debate sponsored by WMHT public television and the Albany Times-Union, Treadwell and Gillibrand wrangled over taxes, the war in Iraq and campaign ethics. As Brian Mann reports, the biggest drama came as the two candidates struggled to distance themselves from their more controversial supporters.