Faced with a competitive primary for the second year in a row, Rep. Jean Schmidt came out victorious again. After being held to just 48% in the 2006 primary, Schmidt defeated State Rep. Tom Brinkman 57%-40% for the GOP nomination in Ohio's 2nd District.

Though Schmidt improved her winning percentage from 2006, it was another sub-par primary performance for an incumbent. She now must confront a familiar face in the general election. Victoria Wulsin, a physician, defeated attorney Steve Black 58%-30% in the spirited Democratic primary. Wulsin and Schmidt previously met in the 2006 general election, when Schmidt won by only 2,500 votes.

The 2nd District runs along the southern edge of the state, hugging the Kentucky border, and includes the eastern edge of Cincinnati, as well as suburban and rural counties to the east. President Bush won 64% here in 2004, but Schmidt has been unable to match that kind of popularity in the voting booth.

Wulsin heads to the general election race with $170,000 on hand, about $70,000 more than Schmidt. Both candidates spent big in the primary, and will need to raise much more money to compete similarly in the general.

--Kyle Trygstad