The parallels between Bob Turner’s special election victory last September in New York’s ninth congressional district (NY-9) and the current special election in Oregon’s first congressional district (OR-1) bode well for a victory for Rob Cornilles.
- In November 2010, incumbent Anthony Weiner (D) defeated businessman Bob Turner (R) by nearly 22 percentage points in a district that had been electing Democrats for decades.
- In November 2010, incumbent David Wu (D) defeated businessman Rob Cornilles (R) by 12 percentage points in a district that had been electing Democrats for decades.
- In June 2011, Anthony Weiner (D) resigned in disgrace (he’d sent lewd photos of himself to a college student)
- In August 2011, David Wu (D) resigned in disgrace (he was being accused of aggressive, unwanted sexual behavior by an 18-year-old)
- A month before the NY-9 special election, Bob Turner was trailing in the polls by 6%.
- A month before the OR-1 special election, Rob Cornilles was trailing in the polls by 11%.
- Bob Turner surged in the polls leading up to the NY-9 special election.
- Rob Cornilles has surged in the polls, cutting the lead to 4% – with a little over 2 weeks to go until the OR-1 special election (voting ends on January 31, 2012).
- Bob Turner defeated his opponent by 5% in September 2011 (an 11% swing from the polling a month before).
- Rob Cornilles could defeat his opponent by ??% in January 2012.
- This was Turner’s first time being elected to public office.
- This would be Cornilles’ first time being elected to public office.