Addie Russell holding off on run for NY21 seat
Photo: Addie Russell assembly campaign
Update, 12:04: Some language has been changed to reflect a further conversation with our reporter, Joanna Richards.
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Democratic New York Assemblywoman Addie Russell has announced she doesn’t plan to run for the state’s 21st District congressional seat. Instead, she’ll seek reelection for her current seat representing the North Country’s 116th Assembly District.
After Bill Owens, the Plattsburgh Democrat who currently holds the seat, made the surprise announcement on Tuesday that he won’t seek reelection, there had been speculation that she’d throw her hat into the ring. She did say in a news conference this morning that he’s not closing the door on a future race for the seat. She did say in a news conference this morning that she’s not closing the door on a run for the seat, and (according to reporter Joanna Richards, who was covering the conference for NCPR) implied that run might come during this election cycle. She said she’s spoken with several people over the last few days who encouraged her to run, and that’s flattering, but she’s focused for now on her work with the assembly.
Russell’s announcement means there’s still no stated Democratic candidate for the seat; Republicans Joseph M. Gilbert of DeKalb Junction, Michael F. Ring of Adams Center, and Elise M. Stefanik of Willsboro (who announced her plans back in August) have all announced their intentions to run.
Russell has served in the Assembly since 2008.
Tags: addie russell, assembly, bill owens, congress, ny21, politics
Since the GOP politburos are trying to rig their primary for Stefanik, I sure hope there’s a Democrat in the race so that at least voters, not just grand pooh-bahs, will have some say in their representation.