NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT — Zephyr Teachout, who challenged Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the race to become the Democratic nominee for governor in 2014, is reported to be considering running for the congressional seat for New York’s 19th District, which is currently held by Republican Chris Gibson. Gibson has said he would not run again.

Teachout surprised many analysts in the race against Cuomo, receiving the most votes in the primary in a number of counties including Sullivan.

The sprawling district includes all or parts of the counties of Broome, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster.

The Working Families Party, which endorsed Cuomo for the 2014 primary, has joined the effort to draft Teachout. The party has put out a press release with a statement from New York Working Families Party Director Bill Lipton, who said, “Zephyr Teachout would be an instantly competitive and compelling candidate. She has a record of fearlessly standing up for a democracy and an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.”

There was also a lengthy statement from local activist Sandy Oxford: “Zephyr lives in Dutchess County, and would be a great match for the district: she’s a fearless, reform-minded leader who has stood up to both Republicans and Democrats to challenge the status quo. She is a passionate believer in government by and for the people, not just the powerful.

“We have an extraordinary opportunity here in the 19th District this year. The incumbent, Republican Rep. Chris Gibson, is retiring, and it will be a very competitive seat. We have the chance this November in our area not only to turn this seat blue, but to elect a real Working Families Democrat to Congress.”

On a related matter, the Democratic Women of Sullivan County announced they will host a Democratic Forum for individuals interested in running for the 19th Congressional District seat this November. The forum will be on Wednesday, January 20, beginning at 7 p.m., immediately following the DWSC’s 6 p.m. annual reorganizational meeting. The meeting and forum will take place at Sorella’s Restaurant in Kauneonga Lake, NY.

Teachout will be at the event, as will Julian Schreibman, the Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged Gibson when he first ran, and Will Yandik, a council member of the Town of Livingston in Columbia County.

On the other side of the aisle, NY State Assemblyman Pete Lopez announced this week that he is suspending his race for the seat because his father is ill with cancer and his role as caregiver with his wife Bridget would prevent him from meeting the demands of a congressional race.