GOP Candidate Bob Turner Defeats Democratic Candidate David Weprin in New York's House Race

GOP wins in NY House race, seen as Obama rebuke - seattlepi.com

Bob Turner  David Weprin

On Tuesday's special election in the 9th Congressional District in New York, Republican candidate Bob Turner, who is a retired media executive and political novice, defeated Democratic candidate David Weprin to replace former seven-term Democratic Congressman Anthony (D-NY) who resigned in disgrace in June as a result of the sexting scandal.  Republicans scored an upset in a heavily Democratic district which became a referendum on President Obama's economic policies.  The district which spans Queens and Brooklyn, has never sent a Republican to office.  Frustration with the weakened national economy gave Republicans the edge in the special election this past Tuesday.  Turner vowed to bring business practicality to Washington and push back on spending and taxes.  The race would've naturally been an easy win for Democrats in a normal election cycle given the fact they had a 3:1 ration registration advantage in the District.

Turner, a 70-year old Catholic, promised to push back on President Obama's policies if he was elected.  One of the things that probably helped Turner was the backing of former Republican New York mayor Rudy Guiliani.  Weprin was embroiled in disputes such as Israel and Weprin's vote to legalize gay marriage in the Assembly.  Former New York mayor Ed Koch endorsed Bob Turner in July as a way to "send a message" to Obama on his anti-Israeli policies.  Koch is a Jew who supports Israel.  Weprin also had supported a proposed Islamic center and mosque near the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan.  Click on the above link to read the rest of the story about Tuesday's election results.