Democrat Owens Wins Northern NY House Race

Albany, N.Y. (AP) - Democrat Bill Owens has won the special Congressional election in northern New York that has grabbed national headlines in its final days as it highlighted divisions within the Republican Party.

Owens led Tuesday with 49 percent of the vote over Conservative Doug Hoffman's 45 percent of the vote in New York's 23rd House district.

Republican Dierdre Scozzafava, who withdrew from the race Saturday, still picked up 6 percent of the vote.

The race in the heavily Republican district has been getting national attention, with some calling it a referendum on President Barack Obama and others saying it could help Republicans focus their message to attract more people to the party.

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