Democrat Bill Owens Wins New York 23 Race

In a major defeat for conservatives, Democrat Bill Owens bested insurgent Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the once sleepy special election in upstate New York's rural 23rd District that turned into a quest by anti-tax "tea party" activists to send a message to both national parties.

Mr. Hoffman conceded early Wednesday. He was trailing 49 percent to 45 percent with 87 percent of vote counted. His defeat came despite the backing of conservative luminaries such as former Sen. Fred Thompson, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey.

Mr. Owens said he won thanks to Republicans and independents who supported him in this conservative-leaning district.

"They put aside partisanship and declared they're ready to move forward, not back," he told supporters in Plattsburgh.

Democratic leaders see third-party upstarts entering 2010 midterm congressional races as a potential, albeit unintentional, ally. Moderate Republican candidates, Democrats believe, are being pushed to the right in states that require them to stay centrist in order to win. In other words, the enemy of their enemy is their friend.

"What we are seeing here is a fractured GOP in Senate races all over the country," said Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat and chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

"The tea partiers and the birthers and the far right of their party is moving these candidates in that direction and that's a lot harder when you have to win in the general election," Mr. Menendez said.