Choice on the Ballot

Liza blogged about it this morning, but I thought I'd weigh in on the race that's presently consuming all of us.

As Liza lays out, there are several reasons to be interested in what at first glance appears to be simply a by-election of little relevance beyond the borders of one district. However, the circumstances surrounding this election are far-reaching.

New York State has a bicameral legislature, the lower House of which is held by Democrats, the upper, the state Senate, by republicans. They have held this body largely without challenge or interruption (there were two, in the last century, in 1932 and 1964 respectively) for one hundred and fifty years. In the 2006 election, for the first time in memory, Democrats won the popular vote for the Senate; it is ripe for a takeover.

This special election is for a seat in the state Senate. A few weeks ago, Governor Sptzer tapped a republican Senator, Michael Balboni, for a seat in his cabinet. To replace him, the other side nominated one Maureen O'Connell, presently the Nassau County Clerk and formerly a member of the State Assembly.

It's her record that puts choice on this ballot.

There are degrees to anti-choice activism. If, for example, someone wants adoption options presented during self-sought abortion counseling, they're making an argument within the framework of a broader right to choose and the right to privacy that underlies it.

If, however, someone advocates for jail terms for abortion providers and against the morning-after pill, preserving that framework is probably not what they have in mind. Maureen O'Connell has argued, and voted for and against respectively, these measures in the state Assembly, where they were solidly defeated.

Thing is, if she gets elected to the state Senate, she'll be in the majority. Here is Naral's lit piece dedicated to her:

Wingnut Maureen, as I like to call her, probably and realistically won't be too empowered in the legislature. Still, I like to think that someone this reactionary can't even get elected in this state. That, and that winning this race for the forces of good (that would be us) can usher in the end of the reactionary Senate majority, which will in turn make this a truly Progressive state.

If you'd like to learn more about our candidate, Craig Johnson, check out his web site, here. Or support the netroots event we're putting on for him, tomorrow, here.

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