Buchwald Announces; Welcome to Westchester, Chelsea?
By Dan Murphy
Congresswoman Nita Lowey, a legendary figure and public servant in Westchester County who we called “Westchester’s Congresswoman” for decades, announced last week that she will not seek re-election next year, resulting in a number of democratic possible names to replace her being tossed out – most notably Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President and First Lady Bill and Hillary Clinton.
“After 31 years in the U.S. Congress, representing the people of Westchester, Rockland, Queens and the Bronx, I have decided not to seek re-election in 2020,” said Lowey, 82, last week. “It is my deep honor and privilege to serve my community and my country, and I will always be grateful to the people who have entrusted me to represent them.”
Before we get into the “Chelsea Scenario” that sells papers – but nobody truly knows if she wants to run and if she wants to run here in Westchester (except, perhaps, Nita?) – let’s review the long list of possible democratic candidates.
1. Assemblyman David Buchwald
Buchwald was first out of the gate and made it official Oct. 13, posting a video on social media in which he said: “Hi, I’m David Buchwald. Today I announce that am running for NY-17 to serve as a member of Congress in the next election. I want to thank Congressmember Nita Lowey for her years of service, her integrity and for being a strong, progressive voice against the dangerous extremism of Donald Trump. I pledge to continue her work with the same integrity, progressive vision and true blue Democratic values. This will not be an easy election, but I have never shied away from a fight.”
Buchwald has distinguished himself by sponsoring legislation which enables the tax committees of the U.S. Congress to request New York State tax records for New York’s public officials, all the way up to the president of the United States.
Buchwald, a tax attorney who interned for Lowey, is an honest, decent and intelligent public servant. But whether he has enough charisma, or progressive bonafides to get the approval of the democratic base not only in Westchester, but across the country, is another matter. Lowey’s seat, and Westchester’s seat, is a national congressional race.
2. Assemblyman Tom Abinanti.
Abinanti has tossed out the possibility of running, but he is one of many democrats who have dreamed about replacing Lowey, but now no longer live in her district, after the 2010 census redrew the 17th District to include northern Westchester and Rockland. Eliot Engel now represents the southern half of Westchester.
3. Assemblywoman Amy Paulin.
For many years, Paulin was the likely successor to Lowey, or the next county executive. Now, 10 years later, she may still be the candidate, but in recent years has backed off from seeking higher office.
4. Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner.
Feiner has often expressed an interest in running for Congress, but his age and many years of service may have put a change to his plans. Also, if Feiner wants to run, he will have to run in a crowded field of democrats in a primary because he will not be the choice of the party leaders.
5. State Sen. David Carlucci.
Carlucci, like Buchwald, is one of the few younger democrats interested in running for Lowey’s seat, and he is the one democrat who is known in Westchester, and Rockland County, which makes up half of Lowey’s district. But it will be Westchester democrats who will determine who the candidate is, making Carlucci – who represents only Ossining as the Westchester part of his Senate district – a longshot to replace Lowey.
6. New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson.
Bramson is one of several democrats who always wanted to replace Lowey. But Lowey served longer than Bramson, and many democrats had thought, and now years later, that Bramson lives in Engel’s district. Bramson, who worked for Lowey, could still run, but suggested on social media that he likely won’t.
Despite the fact that the 17 Congressional District has been in Lowey’s hands, and democrats’ hands, for four decades, republicans were dreaming about re-taking the seat once held by former Congressman Joe Dioguardi, who Lowey defeated back in 1988, when she announced her retirement next year.
The biggest republican rumor had former County Executive Rob Astorino considering a run for Lowey’s seat. “People are talking to Astorino and his team is looking at it,” said Bill O’Reilly, a longtime republican consultant who ran three of Astorino’s campaign for county executive. “He’s happy with his current life situation, but it’s worth taking a look at, certainly.”
Some of us who have watched the political climate in Westchester change over the past 20 years believe that the chance for Astorino, or any republican, to serve county wide or in Congress has passed.
Astorino was the right republican candidate for the right time… in 2009 and 2013. This reporter was one of Astorino’s biggest supporters, who believed that Westchester was becoming unaffordable for many of us who grew up in the county we loved.
Astorino’s chance at a third term was ended by George Latimer, and by President Donald Trump, and the blue wave of progressive, democratic support that overflowed Westchester in 2017. Can he make a comeback? Is he satisfied both with his personal life, and professional life without politics?
Perhaps Astorino can be convinced that he should be the republican standard bearer to face off against Chelsea Clinton. It would make him the hero of conservative-republican causes across the country. But where does that take him? He is already a commentator of CNN, and after two years is enjoying life after politics.
Bug no republican in Westchester, Rockland or New York State can convey the alternative message to the progressive agenda better than Astorino, and would further put his name in the minds of conservative-republicans across the country.
One more name we should mention in republican circles is Chris Day, son of Rockland County Executive Ed Day. Chris Day ran against Lowey four years ago, losing by a 54%-41% margin. But despite his large loss, Day is an attractive candidate who is able to articulate a moderate-conservative message. Day is also a veteran of the Afghanistan war and served his country with honor. We thought he was a good candidate who got ignored when he ran against Lowey.
Now, to Chelsea, who may or may not yet live in the district. Her parents, Bill and Hillary, bought the house next to their own in Chappaqua, in part for security reasons but also for the possibility that now exists more than ever – that Chelsea will run for Congress from Westchester.
Lowey and the Clintons have a long history. In 2000, Lowey was the leading candidate to run for U.S. Senate from New York after Sen. Daniel Moynihan announced his retirement. Lowey gracefully stepped aside so that Hillary could run and begin her political career.
Some have pointed to the timing of Lowey announcing that she will not run next year, with Chelsea on her book tour with Hillary, as more than a coincidence. Does Lowey want to hand her seat to Chelsea on the way out? If she does, that’s not how the conspiracy theory worked.
Lowey was supposed to retire in the middle of her term, leaving a special election that Chelsea could run and win more easily. Last year, when asked if she envisioned running for elected office, Chelsea told The Journal News that “if someone were to step down or retire” she would “have to think if it’s the right choice for me.”
When democrats took back the House of Representatives in 2018, Lowey became chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee and the first woman to hold that job. In her retirement announcement, Lowey touted the work she was able to do in the house to help her district on the committee.
But time will tell if Lowey, even when she was appropriations chairwoman, was able to deliver with a republican president and a republican-controlled Senate. For example, Lowey mentions that she helped secure funding for the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, in difficult times – but that money came in the form of a low-interest federal loan.
Before Lowey made her announcement there was a democrat running against her – 32-year-old former Obama staffer Mondaire Jones, who is hoping to become the first openly gay black member of Congress, and has already raised $218,000.
Many believe that if Chelsea wants to run, “that would clear the decks” of any other democratic candidate, giving her a clear path to the nomination. Lowey said she would not weigh in on who should replace her: “I will be happy to turn it over to a talented, thoughtful, intelligent person who wins this seat,” she said.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called Lowey “a master legislator,” as the outpouring of appreciation for her service came from Westchester, and Washington, D. “In the Congress, Chairwoman Lowey has earned the respect of all our colleagues as a leader who is both gracious and tenacious, who seeks always to find common ground where she can and stands her ground where she can’t,” said Pelosi.
Views are mixed online over whether it should be Chelsea to replace Lowey. “I was one of many people supporting Nita’s primary race for Senator 20 years ago,” said Paul from White Plains, commenting on the NY Times story last week that announced Lowey’s retirement and Chelsea’s consideration at the same time. “She was leading all the polls. Out of the bushes came Hillary and Nita was forced into retiring from the race. Chelsea? No thanks.”
Carol Goldstein posted: “When I was a village Democratic chair in Westchester I got to know Nita Lowey a bit. One thing often skipped over in news coverage of her is that she has an advantage like that of Speaker Pelosi – their campaigns are husband-financed. Steve Lowey is a very successful lawyer. Nita has never had to spend time or energy fundraising for her own campaigns. I wish we had public campaign financing so that could be true for all of our office holders.”
Others support Buchwald for Congress. “David Buchwald would be an excellent choice – my assemblyman,” wrote Gene from Greenburgh. “He’s smart, hardworking, ethical, personable, and a liberal Democrat who wouldn’t alienate conservative Democrats in Rockland County. New York City voters and most posters here have never heard of him – but they don’t live in Westchester, where he is well-known. He interned for Lowey.”
Others called for Alexandra Ocasio -Cortez to move back to Yorktown, where she grew up and went to high school, to run for Lowey’s seat. Others mention State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for the job. Still, others joked about Ivanka Trump running against her friend Chelsea Clinton.
Let the political games begin!
