Morning Digest: Special election nominee with experience winning tough primaries faces another one

_{The Morning Digest is compiled by David Nir, Jeff Singer, and Stephen Wolf, with additional contributions from the Daily Kos Elections team.}

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Leading Off

● NY-26: Democratic power-brokers in upstate New York tapped state Sen. Tim Kennedy for the forthcoming special election to replace Rep. Brian Higgins on Thursday, but while the move was widely expected, Kennedy will face one ornery obstacle on his road to a full term: former Grand Island Town Supervisor Nate McMurray.

Because New York's laws governing special elections allow party leaders to pick nominees, Kennedy won't have to face a primary for the solidly Democratic 26th District just yet—but he will soon enough. McMurray, who twice came surprisingly close to flipping the old 27th District—which was as red as the 26th is blue—has a huge grudge against the local Democratic establishment in the Buffalo region and says he's going to run against Kennedy in the regularly scheduled election.

But Kennedy has won several very difficult primaries, including three in a row at the start of the previous decade.

Head over to Daily Kos Elections to read Jeff Singer's analysis of Kennedy's electoral career, and find out why McMurray has such a big chip on his shoulder.