Difference between revisions of "Bob Turner"

Revision as of 23:11, December 21, 2012

Bob Turner is the Congressman from New York's 9th congressional district. He defeated Democrat David Weprin, a New York assemblyman, in a special election on September 13th, 2011, succeeding Anthony Weiner, who had resigned in June. Turner was sworn into office on September 15, 2011. He did not seek re-election and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for US Senate from New York.

Biography

Turner was born in Queens. He has 5 children with his wife, Peggy, to whom he has been married since 1965.

2011 special election

The seat was last represented by a Republican in 1923^[1], often being held by liberal Democrats, including Chuck Schumer and Geraldine Ferraro.

The district lies in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, a diverse area that normally votes heavily democratic. Many see Turner's election as a rebuke of President Barack Obama's agenda.^[2]

Turner is a retired media executive, who first ran for the seat in 2010, gaining 41% of the vote in that race^[3]. He has drawn inspiration from the Tea Party movement and has been called "Tea Party Turner" by Democrats.^[4]

He announced his 2011 Special Election campaign in Forest Hills on July 11, 2011^[5]. He gained early momentum, when former New York City Mayor Ed Koch endorsed him on July 25, 2011^[6]. In August, polls showed he was six points behind^[7]. Strong efforts by the Turner campaign, crucial endorsements from Jewish Leaders wanting to send Obama a message on his poor handling of relations with Israel^[8] and gaffes^[9] by an opponent who lived outside the district^[10], allowed Turner to gain momentum and by the weekend before the election, polls showed him in the lead^[11].

Bob Turner won in an 8-point landslide, surprising even what the polls predicted.

References

External links

• Campaign site