This was formerly Rick Lazio’s seat when it was the 2nd. If you’ll remember, the GOP put up a weak Black Republican woman, Joan Johnson, who was only able to get on one line, and so there ended up being 3 Republicans at the general election (Johnson, Robert Walsh on Right to Life and Richard Thompson on the Conservative lines). Israel won with a plurality.
Israel just had an uncomfortably close win against frequent candidate Grant Lally in 2014, 9%. He must’ve concluded he’d have another tough race in ‘16. With Trump on the ballot in NY, we should take the seat back (assuming not a repeat of the 2000 fiasco).
I just checked out the website for the only Republican that had announced for the seat and raised money prior to Steve Isra announcing his retirement, retired Marine Bull Gurfein, and while the website doesn’t say much about his issue positions he’s got a terrific background for the district, including being Jewish, an Ivy League grad (Harvard MBA) and a veteran of several wars: https://gurfeinforamerica.com I think that DJ may be right that Israel didn’t want to go through what would have been a tough reelection race.
On an unrelated matter, Republican Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03) announced his retirement after 12 years in office. He first was elected by defeating black conservative Republican Dylan Glenn in a primary runoff (decided among geographic lines, with Glenn winning big in areas around his home city of Columbus). Maybe Glenn could give it another go.