Jeffries Explores Bid To Unseat Veteran Congressman

After serving four years in Albany, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, D-Fort Greene, has taken the first step in a possible bid for Congress.

Jeffries, who represents the 57th District, which covers parts of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights and Prospect Heights, has launched a congressional exploratory committee to look into challenging Rep. Ed Towns, a 30-year incumbent.

Jeffries, who was elected in 2007 on both the Democratic and Working Families Party tickets, has been active in the fight to prevent a . He's also known for sponsoring a law that reforms the NYPD’s stop and frisk practices and one that ends prison-based gerrymandering, requiring prisoners to be counted toward their home communities for legislative reapportionment, rather than the mostly upstate New York communities where they are incarcerated.

But despite his name recognition, Jeffries would have a tough fight against Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns. Now in his 15th term in the House of Representatives, Towns most recently served as chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

"Being a nice guy who's articulate and done right in the world doesn't unseat an incumbent," said political analyst Joseph Mercurio, a political analyst and adjunct faculty member at NYU. "Even when turnout would be up because it's a presidential year, you're dealing with hardcore voters set in their political affiliations for these types of elections, so there aren't a lot of swing voters to grab."

Joseph said New York's history of elections have shown that incumbents have generally retained their seats, and that issues would have to arise in the Towns camp in order for Jeffries to have a shot at taking over.

"Jeffries would have to do everything right in his campaign, and there would have to be an issue like a scandal on the other side in order for him to have a real chance," said Mercurio. "With enough money and field organization though, it's not impossible to put together a strong raise."

Mercurio said the amount of money that Jeffries can fundraise to hit the campaign trial will be critical towards his success or demise. In the 2010 election, Towns raised $1,714,128 toward his campaign.

With the race being on a relatively smaller scale, Mercurio said creating innovative methods of promotion is essential for Jeffries' campaign.

"Because advertising on cable television would cost too much for this type of campaign, a successful candidate for this race will have to be internet savvy, have an advanced social network and already have an established following of true believers in place," said Mercurio.

Representatives for Jeffries declined to comment on a possible run. 

Towns said in a statement that "putting together a congressional exploratory committee is a welcomed and important part of this democratic process."