Democratic Rep. Bill Owens has told me over and over again that he believes the 23rd District will remain relatively intact after the next round of redistricting.

And it turns out that he is confident that he doesn't need any juice in Albany to help make sure that's a reality. Mr. Owens has not engaged a lobbying firm this year, according to the New York Public Interest Research Group.

Six members of the House delegation — Democratic Reps. Kathy Hochul, Brian Higgins, Eliot Engel, Joseph Crowley, Carolyn McCarthy, and Republican Rep. Richard Hanna — have hired lobbying firms.

But not Mr. Owens, nor his likely 2012 opponent, Matt Doheny.

Redistricting is half of the reason why I use the word "likely" to describe Mr. Doheny. Mr. Doheny is definitely going to run, but it's not absolutely certain that they'll be in the same district, hence, likely.

But likely will certainly continue to be used, because Mr. Doheny still needs to win the Republican primary. No serious challenger has yet emerged.

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