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The news of Rep. John McHugh's nomination as Secretary of the Army by President Barack Obama Tuesday afternoon has set off a succession scramble in upstate New York, giving Democrats an opportunity to pick-off yet another Republican seat in the Northeast.

McHugh's departure will necessitate a special election much like the one conducted this past winter in New York's 20th District. Democrats eked out a hard fought win there, and think they can do the same again.

The sprawling 23rd district, which stretches along much of the state's Northern border, has a Republican registration advantage but like the rest of the region is becoming increasingly tenuous territory for the GOP. McHugh won a ninth term in November with 65 percent of the vote but Obama won 52 percent of district voters in the presidential race.

If Democrats win McHugh's seat, it will leave just two Republicans in the state's congressional delegation, further adding to the once-vibrant state party's woes.

Congressman McHugh is the Ranking Member (lead Republican) of the House Armed Services Committee. As Ranking Member, Congressman McHugh is responsible for setting the Republican agenda of the Committee. The Armed Services Committee oversees the Pentagon and America's defense policies. Before becoming Ranking Member of the full Committee, Congressman McHugh was Ranking Member of the Committee's Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Congressman McHugh is also a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform reviews, on a continuing basis, government activities at all levels with a view to determining their economy and efficiency. As a recognized authority on postal matters in light of his six years as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Postal Service, Rep. McHugh was appointed to serve as the chairman of the Committee’s Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight in early 2003. At the close of the 109th Congress, Rep. McHugh's bill to significantly reform the Postal Service for the first time in 35 years, was signed into law by President Bush.

During the 109th and 110th Congress, Congressman McHugh served as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He was appointed in 2005 by then Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert. The committee is responsible for overseeing activities of the U.S. Intelligence Community, including the annual legislation that directs its operations and spending. It maintains an effective oversight process to ensure that intelligence resources are not misused and that intelligence activities are conducted lawfully. Many aspects of the committee’s work are, and must be, classified for reasons of national security. Rep. McHugh serves on three Intelligence Subcommittees: Terrorism/Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence; Technical and Tactical Intelligence; and Intelligence Policy.