NEW YORK, N.Y. (AP) — New York Congressman-elect Bill Owens has been invited to the White House to meet with President Barack Obama.

White House officials say the Democrat who won the heavily Republican 23rd congressional District in rural northern New York will meet with Obama privately on Friday.

Owens' spokesman, John Boughtin, says staffers are trying to confirm whether Owens would take part in a ceremonial swearing-in with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The lawyer and retired Air Force captain is the first Democrat to represent the region in the House since 1857.

Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Republican Dierdre Scozzafava (skoh-zuh-FAH'-vuh) for the vacant seat of Republican Rep. John McHugh, who became Obama's secretary of the Army.

Scozzafava abruptly withdrew from the race under pressure from the GOP and threw her support behind Owens.