http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/ho...

Attorney Bill Owens won one of the most topsy-turvy special elections in recent memory Tuesday night in Upstate New York, giving Democrats nationally something to cheer about on a day that saw them lose the governorships of New Jersey and Virginia.

Owens defeated Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman and state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava (R), who dropped out of the race over the weekend and endorsed Owens but whose name remained on the ballot.

Hoffman was widely expected to win the seat, which was vacated by Secretary of the Army John McHugh (R) earlier this year. Hoffman has become a cause celebre of national conservatives -- led by former Alaska governor Sarah Palin -- and has been the beneficiary of heavy spending by the D.C.-based Club for Growth.

But Owens, who was largely been overshadowed in recent days by the fight between the movement and establishment wings of the Republican Party, used a strong showing in the eastern portion of this sprawling North County district and a surprisingly strong showing in Scozzafava's home county of Jefferson. (Owens carried the county 49 percent to 46 percent over Hoffman.)


(snip)
Democrats now control 258 seats to 177 for Republicans.