Congressional candidate Matt Doheny is winning the approval of Republicans in Washington, D.C. for his second bid to unseat incumbent Democratic congressman Bill Owens of Plattsburgh from the 23rd Congressional District seat.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, a group of GOP members of the House of Representatives and staff that works at funding and electing Republicans to the House, has conferred on the Watertown investor “On the Radar” status, which the committee calls “the important second step in the ‘Young Guns’ program.”

The “One the Radar” and “Young Guns” levels of approval are granted to prospective candidates who might be useful to the party as contenders for open seats or as challengers to Democratic incumbents.

“We are looking forward to working with Matt Doheny, who has already proven himself by meeting rigorous benchmarks in the ‘Young Guns’ program that will position his campaign for victory,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX).

A press statement from the NRCC says that, “Specifically, the ‘Young Guns’ program encourages candidates who have proven their ability to meet crucial campaign benchmarks to develop their campaigns further in order to achieve victory on Election Day.

“In achieving ‘On the Radar’ status, Doheny has met the second set of these organizational and fundraising benchmarks and has already begun to establish himself as a strong contender.

“With the second set of rigorous benchmarks met in order to achieve ‘On the Radar’ status, Matt Doheny will now work toward even higher goals that will help him advance in the ‘Young Guns’ program and build an effective, winning campaign,” the statement from the committee said.

“We’re building a winning campaign here: hiring passionate team members, being persistent in our fundraising and assembling a top-notch network of supporters and volunteers,” said Doheny in response to the preliminary endorsement.

“We’re thankful to have our hard work recognized by Chairman Sessions and the National Republican Congressional Committee,” Doheny said.

Doheny finished second in a three-way race for the 23rd Congressional District seat in 2010, behind Owens and ahead of Adirondack accountant Dog Hoffman.

The 23rd District covers an area from Lake Ontario to Lake Champlain and down into the central Adirondacks.