William Owens

William Lewis “Bill” Owens (born January 20, 1949) is the Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York's 23rd congressional district. He won the special election held on November 3, 2009 against Republican candidates Doug Hoffman and Deirdre Scozzafava to fill seat vacated by John McHugh upon confirmation of Secretary of the Army, and became the first Democrat to represent the district in Northern New York since the mid-19th century. The election became a national referendum on split in the Republican Party between moderates and conservatives.