Southampton Town Councilwoman Bridget Fleming filed for a campaign against Republican State Senator Ken LaValle this afternoon, setting up another possible contest as Democrats seek to regain a couple of the nine State Senate seats in Long Island, where, as of 2010, they’ve been completely shut out.
Ms. Fleming brings some legal chops to the campaign as well, her Town Council campaign website says she “worked for ten years as an assistant district attorney to Robert Morgenthau in Manhattan.”
On paper, at least, Mr. LaValle’s district is relatively competitive. President Barack Obama won 53% there in 2008, and there are limited ways for gerrymandering to strengthen him during this year’s redistricting process, as he’s surrounded by Republican districts.
However, Mr. LaValle, first elected to the New York State Senate in 1976, is a bit of an institution in that corner of Suffolk County and any candidate would face an uphill battle in defeating him this November.
Mr. LaValle won in 2010 by roughly 2-1 after his initial Democratic opponent got kicked off the ballot.
