WASHINGTON -- House Democrats say they're recruiting a top-tier candidate to challenge Rep. John Katko in the 2018 election in case Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner declines to launch a bid for the seat.

Rep. Denny Heck, D-Wash., the top recruiter for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told the National Journal that the party is pursuing a candidate who may be more likely to step into the race if Miner decides not to run for Congress.

Heck did not identify the candidate. But he confirmed that the 24th Congressional District seat held by Katko, R-Camillus, is among "only four meaningful holes" nationally that Democrats are trying to fill with strong, well-funded candidates.

Miner, whose final term as mayor ends this week, told Syracuse.com last month that she was considering whether to run for Congress against Katko in the midterm election.

Miner had ruled out the possibility in October. But she said Katko's votes in support of the Republican overhaul of the tax code convinced her to reconsider. She has set no deadline to make a decision.

Onondaga County Democratic Party Chairman Mark English said Wednesday that he has not been approached by national Democrats about a new recruiting push for a big-name candidate to take on Katko, nor has he actively pursued other candidates.

Two political newcomers have already launched their campaigns for the party nomination - Dana Balter and Anne Messenger.

Balter, 41, of Syracuse, is a visiting assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University who has been active with the CNY Solidarity Coalition, a grassroots group that formed in response to President Donald Trump's election last year. Messenger, 70, of Manlius, is an executive coach and consultant.

Balter and Messenger lack the name recognition and fundraising ability that Democrats seek from a candidate like Miner. The mayor could not be reached for comment Wednesday about the DCCC's latest recruitment push.

Democrats view Katko's seat in Central New York as a key to regaining the House majority in the 2018 election. He is the only New York Republican - and among 23 Republicans nationwide -- to represent a congressional district that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.

Katko, a second-term former federal prosecutor, won both of his elections by more than 20 percentage points. His 24th District covers all of Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne counties, and the western half of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton.

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