Rating change: King retirement weakens GOP hold on New York seat – By Nathan L. Gonzales (Roll Call) / Nov 11 2019
Long Island district is suburban, but differs from places that swung to Democrats in 2018
Years of predictions finally came true Monday as New York Republican Peter T. King announced he will not seek reelection in the 2nd District. His decision leaves behind another competitive open seat in the suburbs for the GOP to defend.
In 2016, President Donald Trump carried the southern Long Island district by a significant margin, 53 percent to 44 percent, but the longtime congressman’s narrow 6-point margin of victory last fall is fueling Democratic optimism, particularly now that he is not running.
The 2nd is not a typical suburban seat that has shifted away from Trump, and it belongs in a separate category from districts in Orange County, California, or Northern Virginia. There’s a sizable enough white, noncollege-educated electorate in the eastern part of the district to keep it competitive.
New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo carried the 2nd by 4 points in 2018, even as King was defeating Democrat Liuba Grechen Shirley 53 percent to 47 percent.
Continue to article: http://www.rollcall.com/news/campaigns/ratings-change-king-retirement-weakens-gop-hold-on-new-york-seat
Rep. Peter T. King’s decision to retire makes his New York seat more vulnerable for Republicans. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
