NY's Zephyr Teachout Just Officially Announced She is Running for Congress

Fordham Law Associate Professor Zephyr Teachout just officially announced she is running for Congress in New York’s 19th Congressional District.

Hundreds of Working Family Party (WFP) members in the 19th District, which spans the Hudson Valley, Catskills, Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier, signed a petition urging Zephyr to run over the past few weeks.

She recently emerged as the consensus choice of Democratic Party County leaders who interviewed four possible candidates.

Although Teachout still may face a Democratic primary in June, the support of the county leaders would have great impact helping her get endorsements from full County committees.

Another Democrat, Will Yandik, continues to consider running.

The 19th District race is rated a tossup by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

The Republican field was reduced to four earlier this month when State Assemblyman Peter Lopez announced he is withdrawing in order to care for his father, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Andrew Heaney, one of those four Republicans, has announced plans to gather petitions for a June 28 Primary against former Assemblyman John Faso, who has the support of several Republican County committees to get on the ballot.

Faso has been endorsed by Republican County committees in Columbia, Greene, Schoharie and Sullivan counties. He also has the endorsement of Conservative Party committees in Columbia, Greene and Schoharie counties. Faso, like Teachout, has run unsuccessfully for Governor. He issued a statement Monday criticizing Teachout as a New York City-based candidate, although she moved to Dover a year ago.

Heaney said in a statement Monday that Teachout's candidacy should make Republicans reconsider backing Faso. "The fact is Zephyr Teachout gained prominence as a crusader against Albany corruption and John Faso is the poster boy for her work,'' Heaney said. "A race between John and Zephyr will be all about John’s record — his record on ethics, his career as a lobbyist, political operative and Superpac employee — not about jobs, or national security or improving the quality of life in our region."

The two other Republicans seeking their party’s line are Bob Bishop and Robert Shaver.











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