In 2012, as most of the country was moving towards more polarized districts, the Empire State's got more competitive, thanks to a legislative impasse that threw redistricting to a court-appointed special master. Today, New York accounts for only six percent of all House seats but 14 percent of all competitive House races. And with no competitive Senate or gubernatorial race, these House races will take top billing.
Republicans badly want to claim retiring Democratic Rep. Bill Owens's North Country 21st CD, and have a decent shot at unseating Democratic Reps. Tim Bishop (NY-01) and Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18). On the other side of the ledger, GOP Reps. Michael Grimm (NY-11) and Chris Gibson (NY-19) are vulnerable for very different reasons.
Because it is the home base of DCCC Chair Steve Israel, New York is central to Democrats' goal of picking up seats in 2014. But at this point, thanks to the open Owens seat, it would be a coup to net just one seat out of the state. In the June primary, the bigger question might be whether Democratic Rep.
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