FEC Second Quarter -- West Coast
Part ten of our comprehensive look at top House races hits the West Coast (plus Idaho), where each state except Hawaii boasts a competitive contest. To read our earlier take, click here, and follow along our Pacific Ocean swing:
California 04: Rep. John Doolittle's retirement set off a tough Republican primary to replace him. After a costly battle, State Senator Tom McClintock came out on top, putting him in prime position to keep the seat in GOP hands. McClintock raised almost $1.27 million in the Second Quarter and maintained $117,000 on hand after spending a significant amount of money to beat back self-funder Doug Ose. Democratic nominee Charlie Brown, who came close to beating Doolittle in 2006, raised $355,000 and still had $675,000 left over, though facing a rival untainted by the scandalous Doolittle means Brown is the significant underdog.
California 11: Freshman Democrat Jerry McNerney should be in serious trouble in a seat, just outside the Bay Area, that President Bush won by nine points. But McNerney has raised good money, pulling in $416,000 in the last three months and maintaining $1.37 million in the bank. His Republican rival, former Assemblyman Dean Andal, hasn't raised as much money as Washington Republicans hoped he would, finishing the quarter with $174,000 raised and $663,000 on hand. The seat is still competitive, but the freshman who knocked off Republican Richard Pombo in 2006 is in good position so far.
Oregon 05: It was supposed to be one of the best Republican pickup chances of the year, but the Salem-based Fifth District, where Democrat Darlene Hooley is retiring, is looking more like a Democratic hold these days. 2006 Republican nominee Mike Erickson, who has invested serious resources in his own race, raised $105,000 and still has $400,000 in the bank. He's been rocked by allegations that he paid for a former girlfriend's abortion, and though he won the GOP primary, the charges will hurt his chances. State Senator Kurt Schrader raised $355,000 and kept $231,000 in the bank after a surprisingly strong primary challenge from a former aide to Governor John Kitzhaber.
Washington 08: The Bellevue-based Eighth District is one of the most Democratic seats held by a Republican, but Rep. Dave Reichert is one of the GOP's best campaigners. Reichert won his 2006 race by two points, and he faces a rematch this year against a candidate who will be better funded than last time out. While Reichert pulled in $349,000 and kept $916,000 on hand, donors forked $578,000 over to rival Darcy Burner, who has $1.24 million on hand. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised eyebrows a few weeks ago when they did not include the Eighth in the first round of advertising reservations, but Democrats say they will play in the seat. Reichert's a tough candidate, and Burner, by all accounts, has improved since 2006. Few races are going to be more fascinating to watch.
Idaho 01: Freshman Rep. Bill Sali is not popular within his own party; his delegation partner, Rep. Mike Simpson, once reportedly threatened to throw him out a window. And thanks to a technical issue, Sali's fundraising numbers aren't available yet, though a campaign spokesman estimated he will report pulling in $155,000 since the primary and keeping about $250,000 on hand. Democratic businessman Walt Minnick raised $360,000 in the Second Quarter and has $444,000 on hand. Sali will benefit from a big GOP turnout, but Minnick has made a big effort to court Republicans dissatisfied with Sali's conservatism.
Alaska At-Large: Perhaps no incumbent is in more danger than Republican Don Young, but that doesn't mean the GOP is terribly worried about keeping the seat. Young, who has $461,000 on hand after raising $106,000 in the Second Quarter, faces a late August primary against Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell, who had $208,000 on hand after bringing in an impressive $266,000 through June, and State Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, who raised $43,000 in the quarter and loaned herself enough to end with $289,000 on hand. The winner will likely face former House Democratic leader Ethan Berkowitz, who raised $227,000 and ended with $399,000 in the bank, though he faces his own primary with 2006 nominee Diane Benson, who raised $53,000 to end with $47,000 on hand. If ethically-troubled Young survives his primary, Democrats will have a good shot at the seat, though if Parnell scores the nomination, the Democratic winner becomes much more of a long shot.



