Obama Picks McHugh for Army Post

John McHugh has been tapped by President Obama to be the next Secretary of the Army. If confirmed, he will be vacating his congressional seat in Upstate New York. This vacancy will be filled via a special election within the next 30 to 40 days, according to state law. It would become the second special election to fill an Upstate New York congressional seat this year. The district, New York’s 23rd, contains all or part of 11 Upstate counties. Though the district normally leans Republican and McHugh has usually won re-election by large majorities, Obama won the district in the 2008 presidential election, though only by a small margin. McHugh is one of just three Republicans currently serving in New York State’s 29-member congressional delegation. As far as candidates for the special election are concerned, it is possible that history may repeat itself and State Assemblyman Will Barclay (R) and State Senator Darrel Aubertine (D) could be facing each other in a special election again, as they did in 2008 to fill a vacant State Senate seat, a race Aubertine won.