Rep. John McHugh's expected ascension to the position of secretary of the Army offers voters of the 23rd Congressional District the most open, unpredictable race in memory. If ever there was a chance for the district to be shaken up, now is the time.

The seat is expected to become vacant when sitting McHugh is confirmed to his new post later this summer. He was chosen for the prestigious job by President Barack Obama.

McHugh, a Republican, has held the seat in the 23rd since 1993.

Before him, there was David O'B. Martin, also a Republican, and before him was Robert C. McEwen, another Republican, who goes back to the 1960s.

Republicans, in fact, have held the seat since the Civil War era, some 150 years.

The district covers 11 counties, stretching from Lake Ontario in the west to Lake Champlain in the east.

The Watertown and Oswego areas of the western portion of the district feature the largest population centers. The rural North Country district has largely been impenetrable for Democrats for generations, as Republicans have dominated the voter registration files.

But in 2009, Democrats may finally have a chance to take the seat.

The indicators are strong.

First, Democrats are still riding the wave created by the stirring victory of Barack Obama as president last year.

Second, Democrats won a special election for a congressional seat in the mostly Republican 20th District near Albany. Furthermore, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand had won that seat from Republican John Sweeney in 2006.

The time is right for Democrats, but there are no guarantees.

Perhaps their strongest candidate for the job, Darrel Aubertine, the state senator from St. Lawrence County, might not get a chance to even run. With the deadlocked mess in the Senate in Albany, Democrats most likely won't even let Aubertine run, for fear of losing his prized seat and therefore the majority, or at least part of the majority.

While we're not endorsing any of the early entrants, Democrat or Republican, it would be interesting to see a Democrat run competitively in this district, finally. Some very competent candidates have tried, but they have scarcely forced the incumbents to work up a sweat.

There are those who argue it doesn't matter whether the winner is a Republican or Democrat, but that he or she hail from this part of the district — the eastern end, for a change.

The eastern portion of the district has been shut out almost as long as Democrats have not.

Early on, it looks as if the field is going to be crowded and the race exciting. Right now, that's all we can ask. This will be a 23rd District race unlike any we've seen in decades.