United States House of Representatives elections, 2006 - notable races

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Summary of party changes      3-5 Democratic seat pickup      1-2 Democratic seat pickup
Summary of party changes      3-5 Democratic seat pickup      1-2 Democratic seat pickup

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 110th Congress were held on November 7, 2006. The House of Representatives has 435 seats. In the 109th Congress, Republicans held 230 seats, Democrats held 201, with one independent. This article covers races that resulted in a party change and races that were expected to become or were found to be competitive. For national results see United States House elections, 2006. For specific results from all 435 races, see United States House elections, 2006 complete list.

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Notable Races List

Alabama

Main article: Alabama congressional elections, 2006

None of Alabama's seven congressional districts were seriously contested. Democrats Bud Cramer and Artur Davis, won unopposed, and a third, Republican Spencer Bachus, faced token third party opposition.

Alaska

As widely expected, 32-year incumbent Don Young (R) easily defeated Diane Benson (D) to retain Alaska's sole House seat.[1]

Arizona

Arizona had been leaning towards the Republican Party in recent elections. However, a number of factors, including the re-election of popular Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano, who defeated Republican Len Munsil, along with the national anti-Republican mood, resulted in several close races for its six incumbent Republicans. Of those six, three faced tough challengers, and only Republican Jeff Flake received more than 60% of the vote. Two incumbent Republicans, Rick Renzi and J. D. Hayworth, faced difficult challenges, while Jim Kolbe retired from Congress and left his seat wide open, and was eventually snapped up by the Democrats as a result of the Republicans fielding a strongly conservative candidate that many considered too far to the right for the district.

  • Arizona's 1st congressional district— Incumbent Rick Renzi is well-known for his strongly conservative positions in a competitive district. In 2002, the Republican was elected with only 49% of the vote and a margin of just 6,000 votes. Renzi gained national attention in 2004 when he engaged in a shouting match with moderate Republican Mark Kirk of Illinois over the issue of embryonic stem cell research, something Renzi strongly opposes. Renzi has also stated that he will not return some $30,000 in campaign contributions from Tom DeLay's ARMPAC, something that his Democratic opponent and other Democrats argued he should do. At one point, Renzi appeared to have an easy race for his third term when Democrat Jack Jackson Jr., a Native American former state representative, dropped his challenge. Democrats then drafted civil rights attorney Ellen Simon, who won the Democratic primary. Despite entering the race in May, Simon had been able to raise $821,595 as of August 23. However, she still trailed Renzi significantly in cash on hand as Renzi held on to a slight lead in the polls. Results: Renzi defeated Simon, 52% to 44%. (For details, see Arizona 1st congressional district election, 2006.)
  • Arizona's 5th congressional district— Incumbent J.D. Hayworth (R), a member of the Republican freshman class of 1994, had not faced a serious challenge since 1998. At first, the strongly conservative Hayworth appeared well on his way to another easy win. However, Democrats fielded a locally well-known candidate in State Senator Harry Mitchell, the former mayor of Tempe. Mitchell has been a political force in his home town, one of the largest communities in the district, and Democrats became enthusiastic about his candidacy. The district Hayworth represents leans only slightly Republican, and, in addition to Tempe, also includes Scottsdale, the prime real estate of the Phoenix area. Republicans were concerned, but pointed out that Mitchell had gotten off to a late start and that Hayworth would be well-funded. Results: Mitchell defeated Hayworth, 50% to 46%. While most national outlets declared Mitchell the winner on election night, Hayworth didn't concede until November 14.
  • Arizona's 8th congressional district— Incumbent Jim Kolbe (R) announced on November 23, 2005 that he would not seek re-election in 2006.[2] His district, located in Southeastern Arizona and based in the suburbs of Tucson, is Republican-leaning, but competitive: President Bush won the district with 53% of the vote in 2004 (although only 50% in 2000). Also, the fact that it has been electing Kolbe, an openly gay Republican, for two decades, often by wide margins (61% in 2004), shows that this district is by no means a socially conservative stronghold. The Democratic primary in September was won by former State Senator Gabrielle Giffords, who resigned from the Arizona Legislature on December 1, 2005 in preparation for the campaign. Randy Graf, a former state Representative who lost to Kolbe in the 2004 primary, won the September 2006 Republican primary. He defeated current state Representative Steve Huffman, whom both Kolbe and the National Republican Congressional Committee supported. The NRCC reportedly became concerned that Graf (a supporter of the Minuteman Project, and a sponsor of an unsuccessful bill that would let patrons carry guns into bars and restaurants), was too conservative to win the district. The NRCC committed $122,000 for a television ad in support of Huffman, which ran the week before the primary. The Democratic party shared that assessment -- prior to the primary, it spent nearly $200,000, "a large part of that for advertisements critical of Mr. Huffman in an effort to help Mr. Graf's candidacy."[3] In late September, the national GOP canceled about $1 million in advertising support.[4] Libertarian David Nolan also ran for the seat. Results: Giffords went on to win by a 54% to 42% margin. (For details, see Arizona 8th congressional district election, 2006.)

Arkansas

The state of Arkansas is often considered to be different from the rest of the South politically, as the Democratic Party maintains super-majority status in the Arkansas General Assembly, and was once governed by Bill Clinton, who later became President. However, the state is generally considered conservative, although more moderate in contrast to the rest of the South. All incumbents were reelected by comfortable margins.

California

California's political landscape has changed in the last decade from that of a moderate Republican stronghold that sent local favorites Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan to the White House to one increasingly in favor of the Democratic Party as the state voted for Bill Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry in strong numbers. The current Governor, actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a moderate Republican, but faced controversy during his term on a number of issues. However, Schwarzenegger's popularity began to recover, and that eventually led to his re-election. Still, California had a number of congressional races of note, ranging from two hotly contested seats currently held by Republicans with ties to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, to a re-match of a June 2006 primary campaign to fill the seat of disgraced ex-congressman Duke Cunningham. Recent immigration issues also came into play given California's location next to the border with Mexico.

  • California's 11th congressional district— Longtime incumbent Richard Pombo (R) won reelection in 2004 by a reasonably comfortable 61% to 39% margin, even though the Stockton-based district had been made more competitive by the addition of territory in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. However, Pombo became associated with the ethical and legal scandals revolving around Jack Abramoff and is currently under investigation, which eroded his popular support. In addition, Rolling Stone listed him as one of the ten worst congressmen. The Democratic candidate who garnered the 39% in 2004, Jerry McNerney, joined that race as a write-in candidate two weeks before the primary election. McNerney is from the East Bay territory that was added in the 2000 round of redistricting. In 2006, McNerney was challenged in the primary by Steve Filson. Filson was backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee but was surprisingly defeated by McNerney in the primary. Pombo was challenged for the Republican nomination by former Representative Pete McCloskey. Pombo won 63% of the primary vote to 32% for McCloskey.[8] McCloskey eventually endorsed McNerney.[9] Results: McNerney defeated Pombo. For details, see California 11th congressional district election, 2006.)
  • California's 22nd congressional district— Incumbent Republican Bill Thomas, a prominent and influential member of the Republican caucus, retired after more than 25 years in Congress. He represents the agricultural Central Valley, a Republican stronghold where 52% of voters are registered Republicans and 30% are Democrats. He won re-election in 2004 unopposed. The Republican Leader of the California Assembly, Kevin McCarthy, a former aide to Thomas, was the GOP nominee and is very popular in the Central Valley.[10] Results: McCarthy won convincingly, taking in a super-majority of the vote.
  • California's 50th congressional district—Brian Bilbray, a Republican former congressman, won a June 6, 2006, special election to fill the vacancy left by Duke Cunningham, a Republican indicted on bribery charges. He was challenged by Cardiff School Board member Democrat Francine Busby, who appeared to have pulled ahead during the campaign. However, in the final week of the election, Busby told a largely Hispanic group, "You can all help--you don't need papers for voting, you don't need to be a registered voter to help." The Bilbray campaign broadcast that remark throughout the district and deceitfully told voters that Busby was encouraging illegal immigrants to vote. Busby, in fact, was only saying that those who can not legally vote could still help her campaign in other ways. Republicans invested five million dollars in the race, and Democrats two million. Results: Bilbray went on to defeat Busby again in the general election by a 5% margin.

Colorado

In recent years, Republicans and Democrats have made alternating gains within this state, which is increasingly becoming a key swing state in presidential elections. In 2004, Democrats made gains within the state, gaining a House seat and Senate seat, both held by brothers John and Ken Salazar, respectively. The 2006 election looked very favorable to Colorado Democrats, as Bill Ritter defeated Republican Rep. Bob Beauprez for governor. Colorado boasted some of the most competitive congressional districts in the nation: of the seven, four were competitive (three held by Republicans and one held by a Democrat). The three safe districts were split between two Democrats and one Republican (Dianna DeGette in the 1st, Mark Udall in the 2nd, and Tom Tancredo in the 6th). Bush narrowly carried the state in 2004.

  • Colorado's 5th congressional district— Incumbent Joel Hefley (R), the dean of the Colorado delegation to the House of Representatives, announced on February 16, 2006, that he will be retiring from his seat and not seeking an 11th term. This district, based in Colorado Springs, has a very strong Republican tilt, so strong that it has not elected a Democrat to represent it since its creation in 1972. State Senator Doug Lamborn narrowly defeated former Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce executive Jeff Crank, a former aide to Hefley, in the six-way primary in August. Hefley, however, citing Lamborn's negative campaign, refused to endorse him. Lamborn faced Democrat Jay Fawcett, a 20-year U.S. Air Force Veteran who fought in the Gulf War. Results: Lamborn went on to defeat Fawcett by a 59% to 41% margin. (For details, see Colorado 5th congressional district election, 2006.)
  • Colorado's 7th congressional district— Incumbent Bob Beauprez (R) was reelected to a second term in 2004 with 55% of the vote, after winning his first term by only 121 votes. His retirement to make an unsuccessful run for Governor of Colorado made this seat highly competitive. The 7th District is located in the western Denver suburbs. State education chairman Rick O'Donnell was unopposed for the Republican nomination, while State Senator Ed Perlmutter won a three-way Democratic primary. Dave Chandler, a Green, was also a candidate. In late September, O'Donnell was put on the defensive when ads appeared noting that he had previously supported abolishing Social Security." Results: Perlmutter won Beauprez's old seat, 55% to 42%. (For details, see Colorado 7th congressional district election, 2006.)

Connecticut

Connecticut's increasingly liberal, and largely independent, voting populace made the Constitution State one of the most competitive battlegrounds in the 2006 election. Incumbent Republican Governor Jodi Rell is one of the most popular Governors in the country, and went on to win her re-election bid easily. Democrats in the state were split at the polls following the primary between Senator Joe Lieberman and anti-war businessman Ned Lamont. After losing the August primary, the centrist Lieberman ran as an independent and defeated Lamont with an advantage of 10 percent and over 100,000 votes. (See Connecticut United States Senate election, 2006.) With President Bush highly unpopular in New England, its three Republican congressmen were in danger of losing their seats to Democrats. Two lost their re-election bids, while Shays was reelected.

  • Connecticut's 2nd congressional district— Incumbent Rob Simmons (R) a Vietnam War veteran and former CIA agent, won reelection by 54% to 46% in 2004, in a Democratic-leaning district encompassing eastern Connecticut, which includes Norwich and New London. The 2002 nominee, former state Representative Joe Courtney decided to make another run. Simmons received the lion's share of the credit from a friendly media when he argued that he had saved the New London submarine base from closure in the BRAC process. During his last political campaign, however, Simmons had argued that he would keep the Groton base off the list for closure. The press made far less of the contract for the Air Force One helicopter which went to a European firm instead of traditional provider Sikorsky of Connecticut. Simmons and others who sought the label of "moderate" during the 2006 election referred often to fellow Vietnam War veteran John McCain. Yet, Simmons and McCain differed on the issue of torture, and while both Simmons and McCain voted for the Military Commissions Act, Simmons was far and away the bigger supporter. Since President George W. Bush's approval rating was so low, Simmons invited his father, George H. W. Bush, to Connecticut for a September 6 fundraising breakfast in Westbrook, Connecticut. Then, when the President arrived in Connecticut, Simmons did not attend the event. In the past Simmons had received both President Bush and Vice President Cheney at campaign events in Connecticut but during 2006 his close ties with the White House may have helped Courtney. Results: A recount of the election was completed on November 14, 2006, with the final results giving Joe Courtney an 83-vote victory over Rob Simmons.[3] It was the closest house race of 2006.
  • Connecticut's 4th congressional district— Incumbent Chris Shays (R) won reelection by a 52% to 48% margin in 2004 and represents a wealthy district encompassing southwestern Connecticut that includes Bridgeport and Westport. Much like similar districts in Westchester and Long Island, New York, the district had once been a Republican bastion, but swung heavily to the Democrats in the 1990s at the national level. Former Westport Selectwoman Diane Farrell, the 2004 nominee, challenged Shays again and was well-funded. Shays' problem was almost exclusively centered on his support for the Iraq War, as he is mostly liberal on domestic issues. Shays' endorsement of Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman struck many as signs of worry on his part, but now may seem prescient. Shays could not be attacked as a knee-jerk conservative, but local unpopularity of both George W. Bush and the Iraq War helped Farrell's campaign. Robocalls by groups thought to support Farrell were made in the district during July falsely claiming Shays supported President Bush's opposition to stem cell research; one local newspaper called the phone campaign "despicable".[11] In late August the Hartford Courant reported that Shays and Farrell's position on Iraq had seemed to converge[12] In the later stages of the campaign, Shays made at least two very strange statements involving national scandals. On October 11, Shays referenced the death of a woman caused by Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy's drunk driving accident on Chappaquiddick Island near Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts 37 years earlier in an attempt to defend Speaker Dennis Hastert saying, "Dennis Hastert didn't kill anybody"[4] On October 13, Shays surprised many when he claimed that the Abu Gharib prison abuse was "not torture" but a "sex ring." [5] Farrell had nearly $1.4 million on hand.[13] Results: Shays won with a 51% to 48% victory. (For details, see Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 2006.)
  • Connecticut's 5th congressional district— Although incumbent Nancy Johnson (R) won with at least 60% of the vote in 2004 and faced a difficult challenge (running against a fellow incumbent in a redrawn district) in 2002, winning with just 54%, she was still a Republican in a swing district. While the 5th is Connecticut's most conservative region, John Kerry won the district by about 1100 votes in 2004 and Al Gore won it when Johnson represented it as the 6th District in 2000. Johnson faced a credible challenge from state Senator Chris Murphy. She is popular in the district, but with Bush's rating in New England at rock bottom, a Democratic victory was possible. In fact, in a slightly more Democratic district and with a weak Republican presidential candidate, Bob Dole, leading the ticket, Johnson very nearly lost in 1996. Johnson has proven to be a prodigious fundraiser, and added $867,000 to her coffers in April-June 2006, raising her cash on hand to over $2.6 million. Results: Nancy Johnson lost her bid for re-election to Murphy, who outpolled her by 56% to 44%.

Delaware

Main article: Delaware congressional election, 2006

Delaware's only congressman, Republican and former governor Michael N. Castle, cruised to an 18-point victory and will now serve an eighth term in Congress. He is the President of The Republican Main Street Partnership. Castle suffered two minor strokes on September 23 but according to his doctors is expected to make a full recovery.[14]

Florida

Main article: Florida congressional elections, 2006

Republicans lost two seats in Florida. The Mark Foley scandal caused ballot turmoil in District 16 which led to Democrats taking the Republican Foley's seat. In District 22, 13-term incumbent E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R) was defeated by Florida State Senator, Ron Klein (D). District 13's incumbent, Katherine Harris (R), vacated her seat to run for U.S. Senate but was soundly defeated by incumbent Senator Bill Nelson. Meanwhile, the election for her seat is the only congressional house seat in which following state certification of a winner (R by almost 400 votes), the 2nd place finisher challenged the election in court. Court proceedings are still ongoing.

Georgia

Main article: Georgia United States House elections, 2006

A recent redistricting changed the boundaries of Georgia's congressional districts. While historically a Democratic state, the state has leaned more and more to the Republican Party and had given rise to a prominent Republican congressman in Newt Gingrich, the one-time House Speaker who triumphed in the 1994 Republican Revolution that is best known for the Contract with America. This resulted in tough challenges for two of Georgia's Democratic congressmen, the 8th District's Jim Marshall and the 12th District's John Barrow. Both narrowly won reelection.

Hawaii

While Hawaii has historically been a stronghold for the Democratic Party, Republicans have made some inroads within the state, most notably in the election of Governor Linda Lingle, the first Republican to win the office in forty years. The warnings of one of Hawaii's two members of the House of Representatives in regards to the ages of its two elderly U.S. Senators has also resulted in a major primary battle between U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka and Representative Ed Case, leaving one of Hawaii's two Congressional seats open. The primary was on September 23, 2006.

  • Hawaii's 2nd congressional district— In a surprise move, Rep. Ed Case announced in January 2006 that he would challenge Daniel Akaka for the Democratic nomination to the United States Senate. This opened up his Democratic-leaning seat, which includes nearly all of the state outside the immediate Honolulu area. The district has a strong Democratic tilt, although Republicans occasionally win elections there. Both parties had primaries which turned out to be cliffhangers. Former Lieutenant Governor Mazie Hirono won the 10-candidate Democratic primary, outpolling state Senator Colleen Hanabusa, by only 836 votes, while in the Republican primary, state Senator Bob Hogue edged out former state Representative Quentin Kawananakoa, a descendant of the Hawaiian Royal Family, by 189 votes. The district's politics and Hirono's name recognition from her 2002 campaign for Governor made her the solid favorite, although Hogue benefitted from being a local sportscaster and columnist. Few were surprised when Hirono won by a 61% to 39% margin.

Idaho

In recent years, the state of Idaho has transformed itself into a steadfast breadwinner for the Republican Party, electing Republican presidential candidates in double-digit margins. The appointment of Governor Dirk Kempthorne to the United States Secretary of the Interior in Idaho's 1st congressional district— Incumbent Butch Otter (R) ran for governor. Though it elected a Democrat in 1990 and 1992, the district, which contains the Idaho Panhandle region and most of the Boise metropolitan area, has been reliably Republican in recent years. In the May 23 primary, hard-line conservative state Representative Bill Sali edged out a crowded field to win the Republican nomination with 26%. Attorney Larry Grant won the Democratic nomination. Sali is a controversial figure in Idaho politics who clashed repeatedly with Republican leadership in the Idaho Legislature. He also ran a lot of negative ads against his fellow Republicans to win the nomination. Some of Sali's Republican detractors publicly said that they would back Grant in the general election. All this gave Grant a boost in the general election, but Sali remained favored given the GOP tilt of the area and the popular Otter at the top of the ticket. Grant made gains late in the campaign, but Sali held on to win 50% to 45%. (For details, see Idaho 1st congressional district election, 2006.)

Illinois

Besides boasting one of the largest delegations in the House, Illinois has also strengthened its presence within the Democratic Party. Three House members in the northern and western suburbs of Chicago are involved in competitive races that hold a variety of scenarios for Republicans. One Republican hoped to follow in the footsteps of a retiring veteran House member, another looked to hold on a seat that also voted for John Kerry and Barack Obama, and a third looked to take back a Republican-leaning seat lost to a Democrat in 2004. Both Republicans and Democrats have seen some of their elected officials come under fire recently, with Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert taking the heat of criticism from the Mark Foley scandal, while Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich has seen his administration come under investigation for practices related to contracts involving the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and its vendors.

  • Illinois's 6th congressional district— Incumbent Henry Hyde (R) retired after 16 terms in the House. Decorated Iraq War Combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth, who lost both her legs in combat, received substantial backing from the state and national Democratic Party, winning in the primary. State Senator Peter Roskam ran as the Republican candidate. Duckworth emphasized an opposition to so-called spending "earmarks," and promoted her support for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. But Republican officials and Roskam's campaign charged that Duckworth did not stake out clear positions on some major issues and was too closely tied to Chicago Democratic strategists who recruited her and advised her campaign. The district contains some of the western suburbs of Chicago in DuPage and Cook counties. Democratic strength in the district has grown in recent years, but the balance still tilts to the Republicans. Duckworth's compelling biography and her campaign's heavy financial backing and free publicity made her chances seem good, and Democrats had high hopes. However, Roskam edged her out by a 51% to 49% margin.
  • Illinois's 8th congressional district— Incumbent Melissa Bean (D) defeated 35-year House veteran Phil Crane 52%-48% in 2004. Her district is considered the most Republican district in the Chicago area (and according to some experts, in all of Illinois) and includes the northern suburbs of Chicago in and around Lake County. Bush carried the district easily in 2004, making this a prime target for Republicans. Investment banker David McSweeney, who has been willing to spend much of his own money on the campaign, won a crowded Republican primary. A more liberal third party candidate and former 2004 Democratic candidate, Bill Scheurer, ran as well and some labor unions did not support the moderate Bean, complicating her re-election chances; but the Chamber of Commerce endorsed her and provided $400,000 for an early TV ad buy. An October 24 Daily Herald poll had Bean leading McSweeney 42% to 39% [6]. McSweeney made a serious race for the seat, but Bean won a second term by a 51% to 44% margin. (For details, see Illinois 8th congressional district election, 2006.)
  • Illinois's 10th congressional district— Although reliably Republican in past elections, this district located in the northern suburbs of Chicago in coastal Cook and Lake counties, along Lake Michigan, has historically been a moderate Republican stronghold. However, it has not supported a Republican for president since 1988, which made re-election a challenge for Republican incumbent Mark Kirk. Kirk is the head of the Moderate Republican caucus and has voted equally along Democratic and Republican party lines. He is fiscally conservative, but remains pro-choice and pro-environment. Democratic hopes for winning here rose after Bean's win in the far more conservative 8th District. The Democratic candidate was GE Commercial Finance Director of Marketing Dan Seals. As of July 2005, Seals had over half a million dollars on hand. As a result, Kirk had his most difficult race in years, but he prevailed by a 53% to 47% margin. (For details, see Illinois 10th congressional district election, 2006.)
  • Illinois's 14th congressional district— Republican Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House at the time of the 2006 race, won the 2004 election by a 2 to 1 margin. Until revelations of Hastert's role in the Mark Foley scandal Hastert was facing minimal opposition from Democratic challenger John Laesch. Due to this revelation, Hastert is faced calls for his resignation as Speaker. He was reelected by 60% to 40%, a solid win, but his narrowest margin in several years. Hastert will not run for reelection in 2008.
  • Illinois's 17th congressional district— This western Illinois district, which includes Moline and Rock Island, was unexpectedly vacated when longtime liberal Congressman Lane Evans announced that he would not seek reelection due to a decline in his health. The Democratic nominee was Phil Hare, a former aide to Evans. The Republican nominee, former newscaster Andrea Lane Zinga, ran against Evans in 2004 and won 39% of the vote. The district leans Democratic, but not overwhelmingly so. But the Democratic trend both nationwide and in Illinois were more than enough for Hare, who polled 57% of the vote.

Indiana

Indiana has long been the most Republican-friendly state in the Midwest. The Democrats did not field a candidate in the Senate race, leaving the popular incumbent since 1976, Richard Lugar, running against Libertarian Steve Osborn (Although this is more due to the strength and popularity of Lugar himself than that of the GOP). However, three of the Hoosier State's Republican congressmen had become targets of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[15]

  • Indiana's 2nd congressional district— Chris Chocola (R) was first elected in 2002 by a 50% to 46% margin. Democrat Joe Donnelly, who lost to Chocola 54% to 45% in 2004, ran again in 2006. Democrats blamed Donnelly's 2004 loss on a lack of funding from the national party that allowed Chocola to outspend Donnelly by a two-to-one margin. However, President Bush visited the South Bend-based district seven times between 2000 and 2006, suggesting that Chocola was vulnerable. Chocola's popularity was also affected by the unpopularity of GOP Governor Mitch Daniels; among other things, Daniels decided to lease a toll road which runs through the district to a foreign corporation, which then raised toll rates dramatically. Daniels also pushed to move the entire state to Daylight Savings Time, which was opposed by local residents. In the campaign, Chocola attacked Donnelly for being delinquent in paying property taxes. Results: Donnelly defeated the incumbent Chocola, 54% to 46%.
  • Indiana's 7th congressional district— Julia Carson (D) had held this seat, based in urban Indianapolis, since 1996, and always won by comfortable margins. This year was expected to be no exception, but Republican automobile dealer Eric Dickerson ran an aggressive grass-roots campaign after defeating a party-endorsed candidate in the Republican primary. An October poll shocked observers of both parties when it showed Dickerson narrowly leading, 45% to 42% [7]. Carson responded that she always polls more strongly than expected on Election Day. Results: Carson beat Dickerson 54% to 46% (For details, see Indiana 7th congressional district election, 2006).
  • Indiana's 8th congressional district— John Hostettler (R), who had only a 34% approval rating, was challenged by Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth. Hostettler had a history of winning tough reelections, but Ellsworth was considered to be his strongest opponent. The district has been nicknamed "The Bloody Eighth" due to its frequent ousting of incumbent congressmen--it ousted four incumbents from 1966 to 1984. Results Ellsworth defeated the incumbent Hostettler, 61% to 39% in the most one-sided defeat for an incument in the 2006 cycle.
  • Indiana's 9th congressional district— In 2004, incumbent Mike Sodrel (R) defeated then-incumbent Baron Hill by only 1,425 votes, the smallest winning percentage in any congressional race that year.[15] Hill ran in 2006 to reclaim his seat, defeating anti-war challenger Gretchen Clearwater in the May 2 primary. Factors cited in the race included Sodrel being a self-described staunch Republican Party loyalist in an evenly divided district, Hill lacking the advantages of incumbency in 2006, and (according to Democrats) Hill's superior constituent service compared Sodrel's. Cook Political Report rating: Republican Toss Up. Results: Hill defeated incumbent Sodrell 50% to 46%.

Iowa

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Iowa is known as a moderate state that often leans between Republicans and Democrats in national elections. With Democratic Governor and then-potential 2008 presidential candidate Tom Vilsack leaving office after the 2006 election, Republican Congressman Jim Nussle ran for governor, leaving a vacant seat in his district.

  • Iowa's 1st congressional district— Incumbent Jim Nussle (R) left his seat in Congress to run for governor. This district is Democratic-leaning, and of the open seats was one of the most likely to change hands. It contains most of northeastern Iowa including large cities such as Dubuque, the Quad Cities and Waterloo. Businessman Mike Whalen won the Republican nomination by emphasizing border security, while attorney Bruce Braley was the Democratic nominee. Nussle was reelected in 2000 and 2004 with 55% of the vote but Al Gore and John Kerry won the district in those same years. Results: Braley defeated Whalen, 55% to 43%. (For details, see Iowa 1st congressional district election, 2006.)
  • Iowa's 2nd congressional district- Incumbent Jim Leach (R) received 59% of the vote in 2004. This is the most Democratic district in Iowa. However, Leach had consistently won here since 1976, helped by his reputation for strong integrity. Also helping him was that he was consistently among the most liberal Republicans in the House. As a result, he won large numbers of crossover Democrats over the years and was expected to do so again. Democrat David Loebsack edged him out of office in 2006. Results: Loebsack beat the incumbent Leach 51% to 49% .
  • Iowa's 3rd congressional district— Incumbent Leonard Boswell (D) won a closer than expected 2004 reelection in a district containing Des Moines and its surrounding areas. Republican state Senate President Jeff Lamberti challenged Boswell and was well-funded. Lamberti ran an energetic campaign and Republicans named him as one of their most promising challengers. Results: Boswell beat Lamberti 52% to 46%.

Kansas

Although Kansas is known widely as a predominantly Republican state, Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius is popular with voters here. Given that, Democrats believed they had a shot at making gains in the Sunflower State in 2006. As it turned out, Sebelius was reelected in a landslide, and the Democrats managed to take a seat from the Republicans.

  • Kansas's 2nd congressional district— Incumbent Jim Ryun (R), a leading conservative and former Olympic silver medalist, won re-election by 56% to 41% in 2004 and has held this seat for five terms. This year, Ryun faced a rematch with Democrat Nancy Boyda, his opponent in 2004. This district is based in the state capital, Topeka. It also includes Leavenworth, Pittsburg, Manhattan (location of Kansas State University), and half of the liberal college town of Lawrence, home of the University of Kansas. The district also has been Democratic in the past; before 1994, Democrats held the seat for 20 out of 24 years. However, Kansas lost a seat in the 1990s round of redistricting. Most of right-leaning southeast Kansas was added to the district. However, the seat is still far less Republican than the neighboring 1st and 4th districts. Ryun faced a spirited contest for the then-open seat in 1996, but didn't face serious opposition again until Boyda's bid in 2004. However, Ryun faced controversy over a Washington, D.C. real estate purchase: Ed Buckham's U.S. Family Network sold a townhouse to him at a $19,000 loss after two years of ownership, despite the fact that housing values were rising dramatically in that area. In the wake of scandals that rocked the capital this year, this had a major effect on local voters, far more than had been expected. Results: Boyda defeated the incumbent Ryun 51% to 47%.

Kentucky

Kentucky has always leaned more toward Democratic candidates; Democrats have a large majority in registration. In more recent years, Kentucky has been increasingly friendly to Republicans in recent state and national elections. But with incumbent Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher unpopular at the moment, and a conservative Democrat looking to take back a seat he left behind in the previous election cycle, cracks have started to show in a state that easily went to George W. Bush.

  • Kentucky's 2nd congressional district— Incumbent Ron Lewis (R) was seeking a sixth full term (seventh total) in this west-central Kentucky district. The district has a quite conservative bent. Lewis has had no trouble winning reelection after succeeding longtime Democrat William Natcher. His special election victory turned out to be the first sign of the Republican wave later that year. But when first elected, he had promised to serve only six full terms. He was challenged by state Representative Mike Weaver, whose background in business and War Veteran of both Korea and Vietnam made it hard to portray him as a liberal. However, Weaver had trouble raising money. Results: Lewis beat Weaver 55% to 45%.
  • Kentucky's 3rd congressional district— Incumbent Anne Northup (R) has been a target for the Democrats since her upset victory in 1996. The district is far and away the most Democratic district in Kentucky; in 2004 and 2000, John Kerry and Al Gore both won her congressional district by two percent, and Bill Clinton won the district by double-digit margins during the 1990s. While Northup has generally run close races, she won 60% of the vote in the 2004 election. Redistricting after the 2000 census added a few Republican-leaning suburbs to the district, according to Congressional Quarterly. The Democratic candidate for 2006 was John Yarmuth, the founder of local free publication LEO. In spite of Northup's electoral success, excellent constituent services, and popularity among blue-collar voters in southern Lousiville, Democrats saw this race as winnable, since Northrup voted with unpopular President Bush 91% of the time. This race was one of the most hotly contested races, but she had always beaten the odds and Republicans had expected that she would do so again. Results: Yarmuth defeated the incumbent Northup 51% to 48%
  • Kentucky's 4th congressional district— First-term incumbent Geoff Davis (R) was being challenged by retired U.S. Air Force Major Ken Lucas (D), who held the seat from 1999 to 2005. Lucas defeated Davis 51% to 48% in 2002, and retired in 2004, adhering to a pledge of serving only three consecutive terms in the House. Lucas was among the most conservative Democrats in Congress and remains well-known in the district, which includes most of Kentucky's share of the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Brian Houillion (L) entered the race on June 19. In late July The Washington Post also rated the race as a toss-up.[16] However, Davis is an aggressive campaigner who had spent lots of time in the district. It paid off. Results: Davis beat Lucas 51% to 44%.

Louisiana

Main article: Louisiana House elections, 2006

Like most of the Deep South, Louisiana is ancestrally Democratic. However, Republicans have held a majority of the state's congressional seats since 1995. In 2004, the state became the last former Confederate state to have a popularly elected Republican senator. But this year, a number of congressional seats in the southern portion of Louisiana will all be impacted to some extent as a result of Hurricane Katrina, as well as Hurricane Rita, both of which have caused massive damage within Louisiana. For example, most of New Orleans' majority African-American communities have been displaced by Katrina, which in addition to the William Jefferson bribery scandal, could result in a higher Republican turnout in traditionally heavily Democratic New Orleans. Also, several Southwestern Louisiana communities that were heavily damaged or destroyed in Rita could also be a factor in voter turnout, given the possibility of how many residents in that region moved elsewhere. Democrats are also saddled with the unpopularity of Governor Kathleen Blanco, who has a -15% net approval rating according to a recent Survey USA poll.

The primary was on Election Day, November 7, 2006. Unlike other states, which use a primary voting system in which the top vote-getter from each of the parties participating in the election advance to the general election, the Louisiana primary system calls for a jungle primary system in which all candidates—Republicans, Democrats, and third parties — run at the same time. The top two vote-getters then take part in a run-off election the following month. In most cases, however, the incumbent is able to avoid a runoff.

  • Louisiana's 2nd congressional district— Incumbent Congressman William Jefferson (D) has been under intense investigation and the FBI has claimed that it has videotaped him accepting $100,000 in bribes. The police also found money in Jefferson's freezer that was hidden amidst frozen food products. Jefferson was stripped of his membership in the Ways and Means Committee as a result of this scandal. The seat includes most of New Orleans. No Republican has represented this district since Reconstruction, and the Republicans haven't made a serious bid for the seat since the mid-1960s. A Republican lawyer, Joe Lavigne, ran against Jefferson, while a number of Democrats also jumped into the race, including state Senator Derrick Shepherd of Marrero, former New Orleans City Councilman Troy Carter, and state Representative Karen Carter. In mid-October, the State Democratic party voted to endorse Karen Carter, the first time in recent memory that the state party has backed a challenger to its own incumbent Congressman.[17] Cook Political Report rating: Likely Democratic. Results: Jefferson and Karen Carter finished in the top two places with 30% and 22% respectively, sending them to a run-off, which Jefferson won. (For details, see Louisiana 2nd congressional district election, 2006.)
  • Louisiana's 3rd congressional district— In a December 2004 runoff, Charlie Melancon (D) squeaked into Congress by 569 votes over Billy Tauzin III, the son and namesake of his popular predecessor. His is a swing district in southeast Louisiana, which may make him vulnerable. However, Louisiana's unique "Jungle Primary" voting system leaves everything subject to speculation. Melancon was challenged by state Senator Craig Romero (R), who finished a close third in the 2004 open primary. This race was difficult to predict. Melancon had compiled a moderate record, and his work in the wake of Hurricane Katrina drew widespread approval. However, many voters (particularly African-Americans and the poor, two strongly Democratic demographics) have moved elsewhere while the cleanup commences, and it's unclear how many of them will return. Results: Melancon beat Romero 55% to 40%.
  • Louisiana's 7th congressional district— Charles Boustany (R) won 55% to 45% in the December 2004 runoff for this historically Democratic seat. As the incumbent, he was expected to be re-elected in this relatively conservative Southwest Louisiana district. He got a break when Chris John, the Democrat who represented this district from 1997 until his Senate run in 2004, decided not to run again. Boustany was opposed by Mike Stagg, a technology consultant. CQPolitics rating: Republican Favored. Results: Boustany defeated Stagg 71% to 29%.

Maine

Maine continued its drift into the Democratic column, reelecting both Democratic incumbents by large margins. In fast growing southern Maine, Tom Allen received 61% of the vote against Republican Darlene Curley and anti-war Independent Dexter Kamilewic. In the state's rural second district, Mike Michaud received 71% against Republican Scott D'Amboise.

The state has voted Democratic in the last four presidential elections, and has not elected a Republican governor since 1990. The state is home to two moderate Republican senators: Olympia Snowe, who easily won re-election in 2006, and Susan Collins, who is up in 2008.

Maryland

Main article: Maryland Congressional election, 2006

Even though Republicans have made gains in recent years with such high-profile names as Governor Robert Ehrlich and Lieutenant Governor and 2006 U.S. Senate candidate Michael Steele, Maryland is still a Democratic stronghold. Republicans have only carried the state twice since the Eisenhower administration, and have not seriously contested the state since 1988.

  • Maryland's 3rd congressional district— Incumbent Ben Cardin (D) ran for the open Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Paul Sarbanes. The primary elections for both parties were held on September 12, 2006. John Sarbanes, an attorney and son of Paul Sarbanes, won the Democratic nomination with 32% of the vote, while John White, a business executive, won the Republican nomination. The district consists of parts of Baltimore City as well as parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Howard Counties. It includes the state capital of Annapolis. A Republican has not represented a significant portion of Baltimore in decades, and most pundits did not expect the 3rd to divert from form. CQPolitics rating: Democratic Favored. Results: Sarbanes easily defeated White, 65% to 33%.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has the largest single-party delegation: ten Democrats, all of whom were re-elected in 2006 without serious challenges; six of them unopposed. In 2004, four of the ten congressmen ran unopposed, and each of the six others received at least 64% of the vote.

Michigan

The state of Michigan has historically been a swing state because of the Republicans' presence in the northern and western portions of the state, as well as the Democrats' strong pro-labor tilt coming from the automotive industry mainly centered around Detroit and Flint.

  • Michigan's 7th congressional district— Incumbent Republican freshman Joe Schwarz was defeated in the August 8 primary by more conservative former State Representative Tim Walberg, who also ran against Schwarz in the 2004 Republican primary. Walberg received significant support in the 2006 primary from the Club for Growth. The Democratic Party nominee was Sharon Reiner; she hoped that Walberg's hard-line views would be much more unpopular with the general public. Schwarz refused to endorse Walberg [8] and then filed as a write-in candidate for re-election. [9] Citing radical views on both sides, the Detroit News refused to endorse either candidate and instead endorsed the Libertarian Party Candidate, Robert L. Hutchinson. A late October poll gave Reiner a 48% to 47% edge over Walberg. [10] Results: Walberg defeated Renier 51% to 46%.
  • Michigan's 9th congressional district— Incumbent Joe Knollenberg (R) did not have a great campaign in 2004. Though he won with 58% of the vote, that was only after he outspent his opponent (attorney Steve Reifman) by more than 10-to-1. For a 7-term incumbent, this is less than spectacular. Also, the fact that Bush barely won the Oakland County-based district in 2004 with 50% of the vote shows that it is no longer a Republican stronghold; it was once considered the most Republican district in the Detroit area. Knollenberg was potentially vulnerable this year. First, he faced a respectable primary opponent in Oakland County School Board member Patricia Godchaux, a moderate ex-state Representative who accused Knollenberg of being ineffective. Knollenberg ended up decisively winning his primary 69% to 31%. For the November general election, radio talk host Nancy Skinner (on Air America Radio affiliate WDTW) was the Democratic challenger. Skinner has raised a considerable amount of money compared to candidates in prior races and repeated Godchaux's accusations of Knollenberg being ineffective. She was endorsed by the UAW, AFL-CIO and NOW. Skinner had previously lived in Illinois, where she had lost to Barack Obama in the Illinois State Senate primary two years ago. An internal poll put Skinner and Knollenberg in a statistical tie. However, Knollenberg retained his seat, defeating Skinner by six percentage points in the final election; local consensus within the Oakland County Democratic Party places blame on Skinner's personality (often perceived as confrontational) and confirmed liberalism (which is believed to have distanced her from right-leaning Troy, the largest city in the district). Results: Knollenberg beat Skinner 52% to 46%.

Minnesota

In recent years, Minnesota, largely known as a Democratic stronghold that created such nationally-known names as Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale, has been increasingly friendly to Republicans. Still, Democrats, known in Minnesota as DFLers (for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party), continue to have an advantage in this state. The primary was on September 12, 2006.

  • Minnesota's 1st congressional district- Incumbent Gil Gutknecht (R) was reelected with 60% of the vote in 2004. A member of the 1994 Republican Revolution, Gutknecht had promised not to run for a seventh term when first elected. Though not expected to be a significant factor, the broken promise backfired on Gutknecht. Geography teacher Tim Walz was the Democratic nominee and ran a much stronger campaign than anyone expected, helped by the massive decline in President Bush's popularity in Minnesota. Cook Political Report rating: Likely Republican. Result: Walz won the district with 53% of the vote in a major upset.[11]
  • Minnesota's 2nd congressional district— Incumbent John Kline (R) was reelected in 2004 due to the collapse of his challenger's campaign, winning by a margin of 57% to 40%. Things were expected to be very different in 2006. Whistleblower and Former FBI Agent Coleen Rowley, who accused the bureau of mishandling pre-9/11 intelligence, is running as a Democrat, and her presence initially garnered media attention. The 2nd district, south of the Twin Cities, leans Republican but is not out of reach for a Democrat (it was held by Democrat Bill Luther from 1995 until redistricting caused his defeat by Kline in 2002). However, Rowley's credibility was damaged when her campaign website showed an image of Kline's face imposed on Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes. After widespread criticism, she publicly apologized. An October 31 SurveyUSA poll had Kline leading Rowley 54% to 36%. [12] Result: Kline won the election with 56% of the vote.[13]
  • Minnesota's 5th congressional district— Incumbent Martin Olav Sabo (D) retired after 26 years in the House. He won reelection with 70% of the vote in 2004 in a district that went for John Kerry by 71%. The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party had endorsed state Representative Keith Ellison, who won the primary election on September 12 against a wide range of candidates, including Sabo's Chief of Staff, Mike Erlandson. Ellison is a Muslim and, when elected, became the first Muslim to serve in Congress. Ellison's most serious challenger was Independence Party nominee Tammy Lee. First considered a longshot, Lee gained momentum late in the election in part because of Ellison's personal problems and in part due to endorsments from a coalition of prominent Minnesota Democrats and Republicans.[14] The most striking of these supporters, perhaps, was Kathleen Anderson, Sabo's long-time district director who has called Ellison a "scofflaw" and said that Tammy Lee is the only candidate honorable enough to carry on Sabo's legacy.[15] In fact, Sabo refused to endorse Ellison, instead taking a picture with Lee and allowing her to use it in her commercials and literature.[16] The longshot in this race was Republican Alan Fine, who lashed out at Ellison the day after the primary, calling him a racist and an anti-Semite. Over the last three elections, no Republican has garnered over 26% of the vote in this district. Given that 59% of primary voters in the Democratic primary opposed the party-endorsed Ellison, many were watching this race anticipating a possible upset.[17] CQPolitics rating: Safe Democratic. Result: Keith Ellison won the race easily with 56% of the vote.[18] (For details, see Minnesota 5th congressional district election, 2006.)
  • Minnesota's 6th congressional district— Incumbent Mark Kennedy (R) had vacated this seat and ran for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Mark Dayton. The sixth district is located in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities, and extends northwest to St. Cloud. The Independence Party of Minnesota candidate for the House seat was student and political newcomer John Binkowski, a longtime resident of St. Marys Point. The Republican nominee for the House seat was State Senator Michele Bachmann, an outspoken social conservative. Patty Wetterling, who mustered 46% against Kennedy as the Democratic candidate in 2004, was the Democratic nominee. She originally stated her intent to make a second try for the House seat; then campaigned for the United States Senate instead; upon abruptly dropping out of the Senate race, she re-launched a second campaign for the Sixth District House seat. At the party's nominating convention she defeated former Blaine mayor Elwyn Tinklenberg who is also a former minister opposed to abortion and gun control. Tinklenberg had entered the race only after receiving Wetterling's assurance that she would not be running, and he was supported by the DCCC, which considered him to be more electable due to his moderate views. The liberal Wetterling had to try to win over Tinklenberg's former supporters, some of whom are angry about her going back on her word. The northern Twin Cities suburbs that dominate the Sixth District are understood to have been the politically quirky heart of Jesse Ventura's success at the expense of the two major parties. Also, St. Cloud has long been a center of anti-abortion activism. This district leans Republican, but not overwhelmingly so. An October 26 Majority-Watch poll had Bachmann leading Wetterling 48% to 47% [19]. A November 3 SurveyUSA poll has Bachmann leading Wetterling 49% to 42% [20]. Cook Political Report rating: Lean Republican. In mid-August, CQPolitics changed their rating of this race from Leans Republican to No Clear Favorite. [21] Result: Bachmann outpolled Wetterling 50% to 42%, with Binkowski taking the remaining 8%. {For details, see Minnesota 6th congressional district election, 2006.)

Mississippi

Mississippi, like most other southern states, has seemingly shifted from being a Democratic stronghold to one of the Republican Party. However, Democrats occasionally win elections in this state every year. In the 2006 midterm elections, Mississippi returned all four of its incumbents (2 Republicans and 2 Democrats) to Washington. All incumbents won their seats with over 60% of the vote.

Missouri

None of Missouri's nine incumbent members of Congress faced serious opposition.

Montana

In recent years, Montana has been known as a Republican-leaning state, re-electing George W. Bush by a wide margin in 2004. However, Democrats have been making gains in this state, and the popularity of Governor Brian Schweitzer, along with a tough re-election campaign for incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Conrad Burns, could have made things challenging for Montana's only Congressman.

  • Montana's At-large congressional district– Incumbent Dennis Rehberg (R) won with 64% of the vote in 2004 and is generally popular, but was considered potentially vulnerable due to Montana having swung over to the Democratic Party at the state level in 2004, electing Brian Schweitzer as Governor as well handing control of the State Legislature over to the Democrats. Rehberg also had to contend with Burns' extremely tough re-election race. Rehberg's November opponent was respectably-funded state Representative Monica Lindeen. Libertarian Mike Fellows also qualified; he ran in 2004 and won 12,530 votes (3%)CQPolitics rating: Safe Republican. Results: Rehberg defeated Lindeen, 59% to 39%.

Nebraska

Nebraska is known for being a staunchly Republican state. While the U.S. Senators in its congressional delegation have been known to lean to the center of their party (Chuck Hagel with the Republicans, Ben Nelson with the Democrats), its members of the House of Representatives have recently all come from the Republican Party. No Democrat has held a Nebraska congressional seat since 1993.

  • Nebraska's 1st congressional district— Republican incumbent Jeff Fortenberry won his first term in 2004 with 54% of the vote after the retirement of popular moderate Republican congressman Doug Bereuter, who was very critical of the religious right's growing influence on the party. Fortenberry is much more conservative than his predecessor, and won a by a fairly small margin in a district that previously sent Bereuter to Congress by margins of 60%–65% and reelected George W. Bush with 66% of the vote in 2004. A Green Party activist drew 3% of the vote in 2004, and Democrats mobilized in 2006 for another campaign. Democrat and former Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Maxine Moul faced Fortenberry in November.[18] Moul had been lieutenant governor during most of Nelson's first term as governor, and hoped for a coattail effect from Nelson's presence at the top of the ticket. In mid-August, CQPolitics, noting that "recent finance reports show [that Moul had] closed the fundraising gap" changed their rating in this race from Safe Republican to Republican Favored.[19] Results: Fortenberry defeated Moul, 59% - 41%.

Nevada

With the rapid growth of the Las Vegas metropolitan area, Nevada has become increasingly influential in American politics. The political divide between the northern and southern portions of the state, along with the presence of a prominent Democratic leader in Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, has resulted in Nevada's status a swing state. Clark County, which takes in the bulk of Nevada's population and includes Las Vegas, was the only county that went to John Kerry in 2004.

  • Nevada's 2nd congressional district— Incumbent Jim Gibbons (R) ran for governor in this year, narrowly winning after a volatile race. In 2004 he was reelected with 67% of the vote. Current Secretary of State Dean Heller was the Republican nominee for the seat. The district encompasses the vast majority of rural Nevada; nearly 70% of its vote is cast in Washoe County, home to Reno. It has long been considered a safe Republican seat; before 2006, Democrats had made only one serious bid for the seat since its creation in 1983. Nevertheless, GOP party in-fighting seemed to give the Democrats a chance here. Democratic candidate Jill Derby of northern Nevada, who served on the University Board of Regents, ran unopposed, while Heller had to run in a bruising primary. Heller defeated conservative former State Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons — Jim Gibbons' wife — and current Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, who was heavily supported by the Club for Growth, beating the latter by only 428 votes in the August primary. [22]. Citing irregularities, Angle filed a motion in court for a new election, an action supported by the state GOP chairman, which the court eventually rejected. A Mason-Dixon poll conducted October 26-27 showed Heller leading Derby 47% to 39% [23]. Cook Political Report rating: Lean Republican. CQPolitics rating: Leans Republican. Results: Heller defeated Derby, 51% to 45%. (For details, see Nevada 2nd congressional district election, 2006.)
  • Nevada's 3rd congressional district— The district was created in 2002. Incumbent Jon Porter (R) won election that year against a scandal-plagued Democratic opponent, and was reelected in 2004 by comfortable margins. However, the district is almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, and Porter drew the ire of Senator Reid. Reid's former press secretary Tessa Hafen, backed by her ex-boss, challenged Porter in 2006. Hafen is a Mormon, and there was concern by Republicans that many Mormon voters would break party ranks for Hafen. The November ballot also included Libertarian Joseph P. Silvestri and Independent American Party candidate Joshua Hansen. A Mason-Dixon poll conducted October 26-27 showed Porter leading Hafen 46% to 39% [24]. Results: Porter narrowly defeated Hafen, 49% to 47%. (For details, see Nevada 3rd congressional district election, 2006.)

New Hampshire

Main article: New Hampshire congressional elections, 2006

New Hampshire is the most conservative state in the Northeast, with a political tradition that has been likened to that of the Libertarian Party. Republicans held both Congressional seats and most state and local offices. On the other hand, New Hampshire gave its four electoral votes to John Kerry in 2004 and to Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996. Democratic Governor John Lynch, who defeated incumbent Republican Governor Craig Benson in 2004, is widely popular and routed his Republican opponent 2006. Democrats mounted strong challenges to Republican incumbents in both Congressional seats. The primary was on September 12, 2006.

  • New Hampshire's 1st congressional district— Republican incumbent Jeb Bradley was seeking a third term. Rochester Democratic chair Carol Shea-Porter won the Democratic primary against better funded and party-favored state House Democratic Leader Jim Craig, getting 54% of the vote to Craig's 34%. Bradley is a fiscal conservative who supports reduction in taxes and spending, but had broken with conservatives on other issues. Shea-Porter is a strong liberal who supports a Medicare for All program and increased federal funding for education. Unlike her opponent, she disagrees with President Bush on foreign policy issues and the War in Iraq. Although this was the one house district in New England Bush carried in 2004 and Bradley had won by wide margins in 2002 and 2004, the President was highly unpopular throughout New England, which gave Democrats an opening. A poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire between October 29 and November 1 showed Bradley leading 47% to 42% [25]. Results:: Shea-Porter won with 51% of the vote to 49% for Bradley, a win which was almost totally unexpected.
  • New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district— Incumbent Charles Bass (R) won reelection in 2004 with 58% percent of the vote, even as his district was won by John Kerry 52% to 47%. Bass, a political moderate, easily defeated primary challenges from Berlin Mayor Bob Danderson and Mary Maxwell. The Democratic nominee, Paul Hodes, an attorney, was also the 2004 Democratic nominee. A Concord Monitor poll in September 2006 show Bass leading Hodes by 25 percent, but a poll in August 2006 from Anzalone-Lizst Research showed the two neck and neck. [26]. In late September, a top Bass staffer resigned after news stories that a U.S. Government computer in Bass's Washington office had been used to post anonymous concern troll messages to NH blogs. In these messages, "IndyNH" claimed to be a supporter of Paul Hodes who was discouraged by Bass's unbeatable lead. Results: Hodes defeated Bass, 53% to 46%.

New Jersey

Highly touted as one of the most politically competitive states in America, New Jersey has often historically split between the Republican and Democratic parties, but has favored Democrats in recent elections. In fact, New Jersey is known to be one of the nation's most socially liberal states. However, Democrats have hit a snag in the Garden State. The recent state budget problem and Governor Jon Corzine's tax and budget proposals have not been well received. [27] Corzine, a former U.S. Senator, has negative approval ratings, including a -5% approval rating in the September 2006 SurveyUSA Governor's poll,[28] which could prove beneficial to Republicans, including U.S. Senate candidate Tom Kean, Jr.. However, President Bush's approval rating in the state is very negative, getting a -29% approval rating in the October 2006 50 State President Approval poll.[29]

  • New Jersey's 3rd congressional district— Jim Saxton (R) won in 2004 with 63% of the vote in a district that George W. Bush carried by a 167,254 -159,041 plurality over John Kerry. In 2000, Democrats thought they had a tough opponent for Saxton in Cherry Hill (the district's largest community) Mayor Susan Bass Levin, who raised and spent substantially, but Saxton won by 58%. Despite that win, some Democrats think Saxton has never faced any strong competition. Some believe the district is trending Democratic, which could make his chances of re-election tougher. Republicans, however, were not as concerned, as Ocean County was carried handily by Bush and losing GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester. The district runs from the central shore of New Jersey through Burlington County and into the Philadelphia suburbs. The Democratic nominee was Rich Sexton, an attorney, a 20-year veteran and officer in the United States Navy, and a Fighting Dem. CQPolitics rating: Safe Republican. Results:: Saxton won with 58% of the vote to 41% for Sexton.