House Elections within 20% in 2004

Here's the second entry of analysis by Adam Tondowsky (link to the first), that looks at all House races won by less than 20%, grouped by long-time incumbents, first-termers, and open-seat winners. As you can see, there are more Republican-held close CD's than there are Democratic-held CD's; but that said, hardly any incumbents lose.
The order is by percentage of victory, from lowest to highest. 

                                        Win%      Outcome%      2002%
Republicans

Long Term Incumbents
1. Connecticut 4     Chris Shays        4.8%     52.4-47.6%     64.4%
2. Minnesota 6       Mark Kennedy       8.0%     54.0-46.0%     57.3%
3. Connecticut 2     Rob Simmons        8.4%     54.2-45.8%     54.1%
4. Indiana 8         John Hostettler    8.9%     53.4-44.5%     51.3%
4. New Mexico 1      Heather Wilson     8.9%     54.4-45.5%     55.3%
6. North Carolina 11 Charles Taylor     9.8%     54.9-45.1%     55.5%
7. California 26     David Drier       10.8%     53.6-42.8%     63.8%
8. North Carolina 8  Robin Hayes       11.0%     55.5-44.5%     53.6%
9. New York 26       Tom Reynolds      11.2%     55.6-44.4%     73.7%
10.Illinois 6        Henry Hyde        11.6%     55.8-44.2%     65.1%
11.Iowa 1            Jim Nussle        11.9%     55.2-43.3%     57.2%
12.Wyoming           Barbara Cubin     13.5%     55.3-41.8%     60.5%
13.Texas 22          Tom Delay         14.1%     55.2-41.1%     63.2%
14.Kansas 2          Jim Ryun          14.9%     56.1-41.2%     60.4%
15.New Jersey 7      Mike Ferguson     15.3%     57.0-41.7%     58.0%
16.West Virginia 2   Shelley M. Capito 16.2%     57.5-41.3%     60.0%
17.Ohio 4            Mike Oxley        16.8%     58.6-41.4%     67.5%
18.Illinois 11       Jerry Weller      17.4%     58.7-41.3%     64.3%
19.New York 13       Vito Fossella     18.0%     59.0-41.0%     69.5%
20.Pennsylvania 7    Curt Weldon       18.4%     58.8-40.4%     66.1%
21.Michigan 9        Joe Knollenberg   19.0%     58.5-39.5%     58.1%
22.Ohio 1            Steve Chabot      19.7%     59.8-40.1%     64.8%
23.Iowa 2            Jim Leach         19.7%     58.9-39.2%     52.2% 

First Term Incumbents
1. Pennsylvania 6   Jim Gerlach         2.0%     51.0-49.0%     51.4%
2. Colorado 4       Marilyn Musgrave    6.2%     51.0-44.8%     54.9%
3. Indiana 2        Chris Chocola       9.7%     54.2-44.5%     50.5%
4. Florida 13       Katherine Harris   10.6%     55.3-44.7%     54.8%
5. Colorado 7       Bob Beauprez       11.9%     54.7-42.8%     47.3%
6. Nevada 3         Jon Porter         14.0%     54.4-40.4%     56.1%
7. Georgia 11       Phil Gingrey       14.8%     57.4-42.6%     51.6% 
8. Michigan 11      Thad McCotter      16.0%     57.0-41.0%     57.2%
9. Minnesota 2      John Kline         16.1%     56.4-40.3%     57.3% 
10.New Jersey 5     Scott Garrett      16.5%     57.6-41.1%     59.5% 

Open Seats & Dem-held/Incumbents
1. Indiana 9        Mike Sodrel         0.5%     49.5-49.0%          
2. Washington 8    Dave Reichert        4.8%     51.5-46.7%
3. New York 29     Randy Kuhl           9.9%     50.7-40.8%
4. Louisiana 7     Charles Boustany    10.0%     55.0-45.0%           
5. Texas 32        Pete Sessions       10.3%     54.3-44.0%          
6. Virginia 2      Thelma Drake        10.3%     55.1-44.8%
7. Kentucky 4      Geoff Davis         10.5%     54.4-43.9%
8. Nebraska 1      Jeff Fortenberry    11.2%     54.2-43.0%
9. Pennsylvania 8  Mike Fitzpatrick    12.0%     55.3-44.3%
10.Texas 2         Ted Poe             12.6%     55.5-42.9%           
11.N. Carolina 5   Virginia Foxx       17.6%     58.8-41.2%
12.Texas 19        Randy Neugebauer    18.3%     58.4-40.1%          
13.Pennsylvania 15 Charlie Dent        19.2%     58.6-39.4%
14.Washington 5    Cathy McMorris      19.4%     59.7-40.3% 

Democrats

Long Term Incumbents
1. Texas 17        Chet Edwards         3.8%     51.2-47.4%     51.6%
2. Oregon 5        Darlene Hooley       8.6%     52.9-44.3%     54.7%
3. Iowa 3          Len Boswell         10.5%     55.2-44.7%     53.4%
4. Indiana 7       Julia Carson        10.7%     54.4-43.7%     53.1%
5. Kansas 3        Dennis Moore        11.5%     54.8-43.3%     50.2%
6. Utah 2          Jim Matheson        11.6%     54.8-43.2%     49.4%
7. Wisconsin 3     Ron Kind            12.9%     56.4-43.5%     62.8%
8. Arkansas 2      Vic Snyder          16.4%     58.2-41.8%     92.9%
9. Mississippi 2   Bennie Thompson     16.6%     57.8-41.2%     55.1%
10.Texas 15        Ruben Hinosjosa     17.0%     57.8-40.8%    100.0%
11.North Dakota    Earl Pomeroy        19.2%     59.6-40.4%     52.4%
12.Oregon 1        David Wu            19.4%     57.5-38.1%     62.7%
12.Maine 1         Tom Allen           19.4%     59.7-40.3%     63.8%
14.New Jersey 12   Rush Holt           19.5%     59.2-39.7%     61.0% 

First Termers
1. South Dakota    Stephanie Herseth    7.5%     53.4-45.9%     50.6% 
2. Tennessee 4     Lincoln Davis       11.1%     54.6-43.5%     52.1%
3. New York 1      Tim Bishop          12.4%     56.2-43.8%     50.1%
4. N. Carolina 13  Brad Miller         17.6%     58.8-41.2%     54.7%
5. Maine 2         Michael Michaud     18.5%     58.0-39.5%     52.0%
6. Kentucky 6      Ben Chandler        18.6%     58.6-40.0%     55.1% 

Open Seats & GOP-held/Incumbents
1. Louisiana 3     Charlie Melancon     0.4%     50.2-49.8%           
2. New York 27     Brian Higgins        1.4%     50.7-49.3%           
3. Illinois 8      Melissa Bean         3.4%     51.7-48.3%           
4. Georgia 12      John Barrow          3.6%     51.8-48.2%           
5. Colorado 3      John Salazar         4.0%     50.6-46.6%           
6. California 20   Jim Costa            7.0%     53.5-46.5%
7. Missouri 3      Russ Carnahan        7.8%     52.9-45.1%
8. Missouri 5      Emmanuel Cleaver    13.1%     55.2-42.1%
9. Pennsylvania 13 Allyson Schwartz    14.4%     55.7-41.3%



Display:


The Question Is ... (none / 0)

What are we going to do about it???
by bringohiohome on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 12:08:40 PM EST

Re: The Question Is ... (none / 0)

The data does reflect a few, select Republican seats that will be competitive in '06.  

I would suggest:

  1. That those most familiar with these competitive seats let everyone know who the best/strongest/most-likely-to-win candidate is in the district and urge them to run.

  2. Support these candidates in any avenue possible, from urging those in the area to volunteer to providing funds to their effort.

by kitsae on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 12:12:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Question Is ... (none / 0)

I think Dems should follow the lead of Mellisa Bean, and that a large number of rematches are in order. Historically, this hasn't proved to be all that effective, but lately, since when is history any sort of accurate indicator as to what's effective or accurate.  I'd like to see the Democratic challengers of 04 all go for rematches in 06, in these CD's:

CT 4(Ferrel), MN 6(Wetterling), NC 11(Keever), IL 6(Cegelis), PA 6(Murphy), they all ran great races against GOP incumbents, could start off with single-digit differences.

by Jerome Armstrong on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 12:48:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Question Is ... (none / 0)

MN-6: Expect Kennedy to run for Senate against Dayton in 2006. If he does, and Wetterling runs again, it's a toss-up at worst and a top pickup opportunity.
by punishinglemur on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 05:54:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Question Is ... (none / 0)

Priority Uno - PA-6. Lois Murphy got 49% of the vote.
by raginillinoian on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 07:15:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Question Is ... (none / 0)

What are the enrollmnt numbers for those districts?

And which of these districts have a history of voting democratic in elections for other offices?

The 10,000 Things
by Andrew C White on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 09:34:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Support Term Limits (none / 0)

Two terms in the Senate or 12 years,

Six terms in the house or 12 years.

Put the republicans on the defensive. After all they wrapped themselves in the mantle of term limits in '94 and have nothing to show for it besides corruption. If Democrats want to undo the "Great Backlash" atmosphere in AMerica, they need to do the easy things like support term limits.

Oh, and to those of you who don't like term limits, shall we revoke them on the Presidency? Bush '08 anyone?

by Paul Goodman on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 05:09:03 PM EST

Re: Support Term Limits (none / 0)

I also came to the conclusion 12-year term limits were the right length.
Rrrinnggg... Time to change the government.
by Carl Nyberg on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 07:42:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Support Term Limits (none / 0)

there's a difference here: Congress is based on seniority. any state that enacts term limits will effectively castrate their representatives. unless it's done on a national level, it's unfair.
by johnny longtorso on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 08:24:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Support Term Limits (none / 0)

I'd prefer proportional representation to term limits.

Neither one is likely to happen anytime soon but as long as we are talking it's a no brainer for me to chose the one over the other.

The 10,000 Things
by Andrew C White on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 09:36:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Support Term Limits (none / 0)

We SHOULD revoke term limits on the presidency. Clinton 2000, anyone? We have a major problem with non-competitive elections in this country, but in this case teh cure is worse than the malady. I just don't like teh idea of being told I *can't* vote for someone. (The first vote I cast in my life was for William Proxmire's sixth term.)
by jdeeth on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 09:42:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

My Short List (none / 0)

In no particular order, except that Gerlach is first:

Jim Gerlach (PA-6)
Dave Reichert (WA-8)
Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4)
Chris Shays (CT-4)
Mark Kennedy (MN-6)
Jim Ryun (KS-2)
Jim Nussle (IA-1)
Heather Wilson (NM-1)
Jon Porter (NV-3)
David Dreier (CA-26)
Rob Simmons (CT-2)
Henry Hyde (IL-6)
Barbara Cubin (WY-AL)
Bob Beauprez (CO-7)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8)

And of course the best for last:

Katherine Harris (FL-13)
Tom DeLay (TX-22)

by raginillinoian on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 09:12:38 PM EST

Iowa (none / 0)

Nussle is widely expected to run for governor in 06.  The district is very competitive and I think Nussle broke 60% maybe once in eight races.

I'm in Leach's district and helped his opponent a bit this time.  This may be one of the most Democratic districts held by a Republican.  We've tried everything to tie him to Gingrich, to DeLay... but he's soft-spoken, almost professorial in his style, uses the word "independent" every chance he gets, and has halfway decent positions on a couple hot button issues (choice and guns).

With the defeat of Connie Morella in 2002, Leach is the last remaining Token Republican for "independent" groups to endorse and maintain a thin veneer of bipartisanship.

My pet theory is that voters are doing the same thing.  People are taught in our political culture to "vote the person not the party" and that partisanship is Bad.  So a lot of basically progressive people vote for Leach in order to make themselves feel good because they didn't vote a straight ticket.  Exit polls have had Leach winning 20 to 25% of the Democratic vote for several cycles.

Retirement is unlikely.  He moved into the district after the '01 reapportionment which is an indicator that he's in for the long haul.  And he's gotten loads of local media for traveling to the tsunami scene.

At one time I thought Leach might be vulnerable in a GOP primary, but now I'm convinced that the GOP knows he's the only Republican who can hold Iowa 1.  He may never break 60% again just because of the district's party ID.  But taking that last ten percent has been our quest for the grail since at least 1994...

The only people I can see giving Leach a run for his money are the Vilsacks (either one of them).

by jdeeth on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 09:37:19 PM EST

NC-11 (none / 0)

Patsy Keever can win in NC-11.  This district leans a bit to the right, but she came closer to beating Charles Taylor than any Dem has since his first election to congress. This was a tough year for Democrats in hostile districts because of gay marriage, micheal moore, and John Kerry as the Presidential candidate.  In 2006 these will be almost non-existant factors (except maybe gay marriage).  Keever was a popular county commissioner of Buncombe County (a large chunk of the district)and comes across well with both  liberals and moderates.  Also, there has been some underground gossip about fraud and corruption in the bank that Taylor owns, but this issue never was addressed in the 2004 campaign.  Taylor is in his 60s and serving his 8th term, so there is at least a small chance that he'll retire.  If he does retire, this race is at worst a toss-up.
by Drayton on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 10:47:45 PM EST

Re: NC-11 (none / 0)

I don't know... perhaps it may be easier to beat Taylor than to win an open seat, given the controversy always surrounding him.  I remember Helen Chenoweth was so controversial that we nearly defeated her a couple of times despite it being a pretty Republican district.  After she retired, it became safe GOP territory.
by Tom on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 02:38:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NC-11 (none / 0)

NC-11 changed hands almost every election before Charlie Taylor.
by wayward on Tue Jan 04, 2005 at 02:02:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NC-11 (none / 0)

A county-by-county breakdown showed the following:

Keever won Buncombe County (Asheville) by a considerable margin, no surprise.

Taylor won the rural mountain counties by a wide margin, also no surprise, given the amount of pork he's brought home.

Taylor buried Keever in Henderson County. It was the old folks in the retirement homes in Hendersonville that won it for Taylor.

Media access is extremely difficult in NC-11. The only local TV station is Sinclair owned. All other stations broadcast from SC, and do not cover NC politics.

The way to win NC-11 is for the Democrats to call the ethically-challenged Taylor the crook that he is. They also need to tie environmental issues to economic issues (think tourism in the NC mountains) and bring the debate back from the hot button issues to the pocketbook issues that affect people's daily lives.

Keever tried to piggyback off of Inez Tenenbaum's strategy in SC of attacking the 23% sales tax proposal that Taylor and DeMint co-sponsored. It didn't work for either of them.

by wayward on Tue Jan 04, 2005 at 02:01:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

How about Western Pennsylvania (none / 0)

The PA 3rd and 4th, I think are both districts are gettable.
Rich Santorum in drag(Melisa Hart) represent the 4th, Democrats have registration edge, but the district slightly favored Bush vs. Gore in 2000 about 52% to 46.5%.  This district was held for 16 years before Hart.  Not sure who could win this maybe Chris Heinz or Franco Harris.

The 3rd district is represented by Phil English who got 17% less in 2004 than he did in 2002.  In 2000 the district voted for Bush about 51% to Gores 46.6% with Nader getting about 3%.  Democrats represent 47% of voters and Republicans 44% with the rest indepents and 3rd parties.  I don't think there are any elected Democrats that can win maybe Fred Vero who lost in a PA House race in a pretty conservative district.  Here is his campaign website for state rep. http://www.electfredvero.org/

Councilman Bill Painter
by Painter2004 on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 11:28:03 PM EST

Not many within 10 percent (none / 0)

I count only 12 GOP seats where the Democrats lost by less than 10 percent -- and only 4 where we came within 5 percent.  This seems like discouraging evidence of the effectiveness of GOP gerrymandering -- even though the GOP margin in the House is not that large by historical standards, it would take something close to a Democratic landslide to undo it with current Congressional District lines.

This also suggests to me that rather than chasing after wins in marginally competitive districts, we may want to focus our efforts to retake the House on longer-term strategies -- pressing for non-partisan redistricting processes (in those states that are currently gerrymandered for the GOP) and also looking ahead to make sure we control as many governor's offices and state legislatures as possible after the 2010 Census.

by lkusmin on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 12:00:02 PM EST

CT-2 and CT-4 (none / 0)

One of our priorities should be to kick out as many Reps in blue states as possible.  I have no idea the demographics on these two, but they sure seem to be in play, don't they?  I want there to be zero Republicans from New England as soon as freaking possible.
by Geotpf on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 03:03:30 PM EST

Get DeLay (none / 0)

Republicans have gone after and defeated Tom Foley in 1994 and Tom Daschle in 2004.

Democrats need to get Tom DeLay. DeLay has serious ethical problems and the Democrats need to hit him HARD on these in 2006.

A good Democrat running as a reformer can beat DeLay in 2006.

by wayward on Tue Jan 04, 2005 at 02:05:45 PM EST


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