New York State Hosts Pivotal House Races

New York State may turn out to have the most important contests for determining whether Republicans maintain their majority in the House of Representatives.

At least eight districts in the state are likely to see competitive races, with about equal numbers of vulnerable incumbents for each party, Politico reports. National party committees are getting involved, underlying the significance of the contests.

Republicans hope to oust Democratic Reps. Kathy Hochul, Bill Owens, Tim Bishop and Louise Slaughter. And Democrats are trying to give the boot to Republican Reps. Nan Hayworth, Ann Marie Buerkle, Chris Gibson and Michael Grimm.

All of the Republicans came into office as part of the GOP’s 2010 onslaught. But they represent moderate swing districts, reports Politico.

New York as a whole skews solidly Democratic, but Republicans made huge inroads two years ago, even with popular Andrew Cuomo, now governor, heading the Democratic ticket. And President Barack Obama’s growing unpopularity in swing districts could damage Democratic candidates there.

“Democrats would be lucky to win back just one or two of the five seats they lost in 2010,” wrote David Wasserman, an analyst for The Cook Political Report. Incumbents have the edge, according to Politico.

The healthcare reform law could play a role in the elections. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has introduced ads on the Internet criticizing Gibson and Hayworth for their support of repealing Obamacare. Meanwhile, the American Action Network is putting out ads calling Slaughter, Owens and Bishop “three stooges” who voted for the law.