House Incumbents Still Alive
Down-ballot from the presidential and gubernatorial races, three House incumbents started yesterday unsure of their respective fates. But all three exited the primaries unscathed and with a good chance of returning to Congress in 2009.
Less than two months after winning a special election to serve out the remaining term of his late grandmother, Rep. Andre Carson held off a seven-candidate field of challengers yesterday to secure his place on the November ballot in Indiana's 7th District. Carson's top challenger, former state Health Commissioner Woody Myers, spent more than $1 million of his own money, but was unable to overcome Carson's advantages; the incumbent won 46% to Myers's 24%. State Reps. David Orentlicher and Carolene Mays finished with 21% and 8%, respectively. In the November general election, Carson will face Republican state Rep. Jon Elrod, whom he defeated 54%-43% in the March special election.
In North Carolina, GOP Reps. Walter Jones and Patrick McHenry yesterday overcame what should be their toughest challenges of this election cycle. Jones, serving his seventh term in the House, became vulnerable to a challenge from the right after becoming outspoken about his opposition to the Iraq war. Representing a district that votes heavily Republican and includes two large Marine Corps bases, Jones was one of only two Republicans to co-sponsor the February 2007 resolution opposing Bush's troop surge. However, Jones held off Onslow County Commissioner Joe McLaughlin, who was not able to raise a large sum of money, defeating him 60%-40%.
McHenry, the youngest member of Congress, is serving his second term in office and represents one of the most conservative districts in the state. He was challenged by Air Force officer Lance Sigmon, but ended up with a comfortable 67%-33% victory. McHenry faced some controversy when video surfaced of him calling a contractor in Iraq a "two-bit security guard." Sigmon used the video in an ad, but the issue apparently was not enough to knock the incumbent off.
-- Kyle Trygstad