In a fascinating bit of political history research, Swing State Project blogger “Silver Spring” takes a look at the now-vacant NY-23 district (represented by John McHugh before he was nominated as Secretary of the Army) and finds that much hasn’t been represented by a Democrat for awhile. A long while. Nearly half of the district hasn’t been represented by a Democrat since 1854. And one county (Franklin) was more recently represented by a Whig (1852) than a Democrat (1850).

So the point is, if Democrats win the special election for this seat, they’ll have snapped one hell of a drought.

(Incidentally, Obama won this district 52-47 — so it is hardly out of the question).