House Races in New York Began to Heat Up

Swing districts and an empty seat loom big as Democrats and Republicans looked to gain seats in the House from New York in the midterm elections this November.

With eight months to go prior to the November election, six or more of the 27 seats in the state show signs of being close races. Across the state key challenges have started from the east district of Long Island of Timothy Bishop a Democrat to the Southern district where Tom Reed the Republican is running for his third term.

Steve Israel, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman said New York would be pivotal for the Democrats nationally since it presents them with substantial opportunity.

The GOP expects that nationwide it will hold the majority in the House.

Two of the 27 House members from New York have decided to retire.

A former member of the Bush administration, Elise Stefanik has raised money for and built support amongst officials in the GOP around the 21st district. Also running is businessman Matt Doheny, who lost two consecutive races that were close.

Leaders of the Democrats are supporting a documentary maker Aaron Woolf. The Democrats hope to unseat two members of the Republican Party recently hit with bad publicity: Tom Reed and Michael Grimm.

Grimm was reelected in 2013 amidst an investigation by the FBI into his campaign finances related to when he raced for the first time.

Grimm, this past January reacted to a question by a reporter about the probe by threatening to throw the reporter off the balcony, however he apologized later. He has denied any knowledge of improprieties and he has not been accused by the FBI of any wrongdoing.

Democrats in that race are backing Domenic Recchia a former member of the New York City Council.

Back in 2012, Democrats remembered that Reed won in race that was much closer than originally thought against a candidate that was little known. Reed has had negative press about paying taxes. A newspaper reported that he paid his business and personal property taxes late on 38 occasions since 2005.

In general, the Republicans will hammer the Democrats over the new healthcare law, while the Democrats will make their opponents out to be too right wing.