New York 20: Treadwell Not Running

By Nathan L. Gonzales

With Republican and Democratic candidates scrambling for position in the special election in New York's 20th District, 2008 GOP nominee Sandy Treadwell is not jumping into the race, according to GOP sources.

Treadwell, who spent almost $6 million of his own money last cycle in his 61%-38% loss to Cong. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), expressed interest early on, and even released public statements saying as much, but will not ultimately throw his name into consideration. According to GOP insiders, he is currently out of the Empire State and is not making immediate moves toward another run.

Meanwhile state Sen. Betty Little (R) who has already announced her candidacy. And according to the Albany Times-Union, the Saratoga County GOP has decided to back Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco and the Greene County GOP is with 2006 gubernatorial nominee John Faso.

There will not be a primary for the special election, instead the party nominees will be chosen by a weighted vote among the county committees. Saratoga carries the most weight in the 10-county district.

Not only would Treadwell not have Saratoga County, but he likely wouldn't have his home county of Essex, where he is the former county party chairman.

"[Little] is our state senator, and before that she was our assemblywoman," Essex County GOP Chairman Ronald Jackson said Saturday night. "It's unlikely we'd support anyone else as long as she's in the race."

"I'd say she's the best candidate. She has the experience. And it would be a woman replacing a woman," Jackson added. The current Essex chairman also said that he spoke with Treadwell about a week ago about his interest in the race, but hasn't heard from him since.

Gov. David Paterson (D) recently appointed Cong. Gillibrand to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacany left by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, prompting a special election in the 20th Congressional District.