The Stakeholder

Speaker Pelosi Congratulates Congressmen-elect Bill Owens and John Garamendi

Posted by DCCC Press
Nov 04, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on Congressman-elect Bill Owens' victory in the Special Election in New York's 23^rd Congressional District, and Congressman-elect John Garamendi's victory in the Special Election in California's 10th Congressional District:

"Congratulations to Congressmen-elect Bill Owens and John Garamendi on winning great victories tonight.

"Their elections are tributes to their running strong campaigns and to the hard work and strategic thinking of the outstanding Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Chris Van Hollen.

"Bill Owens is a great American success story. A veteran who served his country as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, following the closure of his old Air Force base in Plattsburgh, NY, he led the effort to redevelop it, bringing jobs and opportunity to his community.

"John Garamendi has had a long and distinguished career in public service, most recently as lieutenant governor of California, where he has been a powerful advocate for families and hard-working Californians, improving higher education, health care, and the environment.

"In Congress, Bill Owens and John Garamendi will be champions for the middle class, strong advocates for our troops and veterans, and committed fighters for building a clean energy future.

"I look forward to welcoming Congressmen-elect Owens and Garamendi to the Congress this week and working with them and my colleagues to reform health insurance and continue America's economic recovery."

* * *

New York's 23^rd Congressional District was left vacant when former Congressman John McHugh resigned his seat after being confirmed as Secretary of the Army for President Obama. California's 10^th Congressional District became vacant when former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher resigned her seat after being confirmed as the State Department's Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.