NY Dems to pick special election candidate Aug. 10

New York Democrats on Wednesday announced 11 candidates for the special election to replace Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.), but some big names have taken a pass.

In addition to state Sen. Darrel Aubertine’s surprising decision not to seek the nomination last week, state Assemblywoman Addie Russell and attorney Dan French are also not among those in a list issued by county party chairmen early Wednesday.

The county chairman will interview the candidates Aug. 10, vote, and announce their candidate later that day. It looks like things are wide open.

Here is the list, in something of an order of viability:

Former assistant state Attorney General John Sullivan
Attorney Bill Owens
Attorney Brian McGrath
Former state Democratic Rural Conference Chairman Stu Brody
2004-06 nominee Bob Johnson
2008 nominee Michael Oot
1994 nominee Danny Francis
Steve Burke
Andy Bisselle
Rudolph Johnson
David Ryan

Republicans got one of their first choices in this race in Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava; Democrats will not have such a luxury.

Then again, we are also all set for a matchup between a GOP member of the assembly and a Democratic political outsider. The same thing happened in the other New York special election in March, and it turned out just fine for the majority party.