NY-27: Collins' Indictment

​News was released earlier in the week that Upstate New York Rep. Chris Collins (R-Clarence/Batavia) is now under indictment for securities fraud.  Therefore, how might this effect the political situation in the 27th Congressional District?  Rep. Collins has already said he will stay on the ballot.  Currently, he is facing Grand Island Town Supervisor Nate McMurray who will appear on the Democratic, Working Families, and Women’s Equality Party ballot lines.  Rep. Collins is on the Republican, Conservative, and Independence Party lines.  A third candidate, businessman Larry Piegza, is representing the Reform Party. 
 
At this point, the race does not look competitive.  Mr. McMurray has raised only $133,000 for the campaign, with $81,772 in the bank according to the June 30th Federal Election Commission financial disclosure report.  Until the indictment, the seat was rated as Safe Republican.  Should Mr. Collins decide not to continue the campaign, the various party county chairmen would convene to choose a new nominee.  In the 2016 election, President Trump carried NY-27 by 25 percentage points, 60-35%.  Obviously, this situation will further develop.