Primary Watch: Essex County edition

The Post-Star of Glens Falls writes that the GOP chairman in Essex County expects a primary in the 23rd Congressional District.

Matt Doheny is the only Republican in the race against Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh; two Republicans have flirted with the idea of running but then dropped out.

Like the GOP chair interviewed in the Post-Star, the Republicans and even Conservatives I've spoken with haven't the foggiest about a possible Republican challenger. It'll be tough. Mr. Doheny has laid a lot of groundwork, talked to and impressed a lot of people, and has a lot of friends in the district.

Will Doug Hoffman run again? Even those who are close to him express ignorance.

Here's the caveat, though: The district is going to change quite a bit. Perhaps there's a Republican in, say, Onondaga County or the rest of Essex County or Herkimer County who is licking his or her chops for a seat in Congress. We'll know a lot more after the maps come out.