Late Rep. Slaughter's NY Seat Could Now Go Republican

From Washington to her hometown of Rochester, New York, Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., 88, was widely mourned. The oldest Member of the House and its longest-serving (32 years) woman, Slaughter died Friday morning two days after suffering a concussion.

But as the mourning proceeded, political maneuvering began in Slaughter's 25th District. With several area Democrats expected to jump into the race by the filing deadline April 12, a spirited and perhaps divisive fight could be in store in the primary June 26.

In contrast, Republicans and the New York Conservative Party appear poised to give their ballot line to Dr. James Maxwell, a neurosurgeon and political newcomer.

"Dr. Maxwell is a conservative on just about every issue," Monroe County Conservative Party Chairman Tom Cook told Newsmax. "And he's taken care of 15- to -20,000 patients. That's more than many hospitals do."

For several years, former Lieutenant Governor and former Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy had been considered the natural heir to Slaughter. A beat cop who rose to become Rochester's chief of police before he was elected mayor, Duffy was considered popular with voters of both parties.

But in 2014, he declined to seek re-election as lieutenant governor and took his current job as head of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. Local sources told us this is a very high-paying job and that Duffy is unlikely to relinquish for a return to politics.

Brighton Township Supervisor Bill Moehle and State Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle are both reportedly eyeing this bid for Congress. Also mentioned is the mayor of Rochester with by far the most noteworthy of names: Lovely Warren.

All three are considered strong liberals in the mold of Louise Slaughter.

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.