12 November 2008. Get the rundown on 23 key US House races in the 2008 election. Every two years, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are contested; of the 35 open House seats this November, 28 are held by Republicans. Winners in November will serve in the 111th US Congress from 3 January 2009 until 3 January 2011. The current House is composed of 236 Democrats and 199 Republicans; Democrats gained control in the 2006 mid-term election.
Mississippi (03) - Open Seat - Remains Red
Incumbent: Chip Pickering, R, six term. Not seeking re-election; filed for divorce July 2008.
The Republican nominee is Gregg Harper; the Democrat, Joel Gill. The district has been drawn to favor Republicans.
Seat remains red: Harper 63% to Gill 47%
The Republican nominee is Gregg Harper; the Democrat, Joel Gill. The district has been drawn to favor Republicans.
Seat remains red: Harper 63% to Gill 47%
New Jersey (03) - Open Seat - Turns Blue
Incumbent: Jim Saxton, R, 12 terms. Not seeking re-election.
Democratic candidate John Adler had $1.5 million on hand the end of July. He is facing Republican candidate Chris Myers.
Seat turns blue: Alder 52% to Myers 48%
Democratic candidate John Adler had $1.5 million on hand the end of July. He is facing Republican candidate Chris Myers.
Seat turns blue: Alder 52% to Myers 48%
New Jersey (07) - Open Seat - Remains Red
Incumbent: Mike Ferguson, R, x-term. Not seeking re-election.
In 2006, Democrat Linda Stender lost to Ferguson by less than 2 percentage points. Her opponent is Leonard Lance; June reports showed her leading in the money race.
Seat remains red: Lance 51% to Stender 41%
In 2006, Democrat Linda Stender lost to Ferguson by less than 2 percentage points. Her opponent is Leonard Lance; June reports showed her leading in the money race.
Seat remains red: Lance 51% to Stender 41%
New Mexico (01) - Open Seat - Turns Blue
Incumbent: Heather Wilson, R, five terms. Not seeking re-election (running for Senate).
Wilson, who is running for the Senate, was implicated in the US Attorneys scandal. Running for her vacant seat: Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren P. White (R) and Martin Heinrich (D). At the end of June, Henrich had $352,615 on hand; White had almost double that: $634,307.
Seat turns blue: 55% to 45%
Wilson, who is running for the Senate, was implicated in the US Attorneys scandal. Running for her vacant seat: Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren P. White (R) and Martin Heinrich (D). At the end of June, Henrich had $352,615 on hand; White had almost double that: $634,307.
Seat turns blue: 55% to 45%
New York (26) - Open Seat - Remains Red
Incumbent: Tom Reynolds, R, five terms. Not seeking re-election.
In 2006 Reynolds defeated challenger Jack Davis by only 4% of the vote; in 2004, he had defeated Davis by 12%. (Davis is the person who got the Millionaire's Amendment overturned.) Reynolds chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee from 2003 to 2006; the treasurer embezzled as much as $1 million over a four year period that overlapped Reynolds' tenure. Reportedly, no external audits had been conducted.
How long a shadow will this cast on Republican Chris J. Lee, who Reynolds is supporting? Lawyer Alice Kryzan won a bruising Democratic primary battle that included Iraq War veteran Jonathan P. Powers, 2006 Democratic nominee Davis.
Seat remains red: 55% to 40%
In 2006 Reynolds defeated challenger Jack Davis by only 4% of the vote; in 2004, he had defeated Davis by 12%. (Davis is the person who got the Millionaire's Amendment overturned.) Reynolds chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee from 2003 to 2006; the treasurer embezzled as much as $1 million over a four year period that overlapped Reynolds' tenure. Reportedly, no external audits had been conducted.
How long a shadow will this cast on Republican Chris J. Lee, who Reynolds is supporting? Lawyer Alice Kryzan won a bruising Democratic primary battle that included Iraq War veteran Jonathan P. Powers, 2006 Democratic nominee Davis.
Seat remains red: 55% to 40%
New York (29) - Turns Blue
Incumbent: John R. “Randy” Kuhl, Jr, R, two terms. Re-match.
Kuhl will again face former Navy Commander Eric Massa (D), whom he beat by only ~2% in 2006. Massa has been endorsed by several prominent Republicans. As of the end of June, Massa had $652,281 on hand, comparable to Kuhl with $618,864.
Seat turns blue: Massa 51% to Kuhl 49%
Kuhl will again face former Navy Commander Eric Massa (D), whom he beat by only ~2% in 2006. Massa has been endorsed by several prominent Republicans. As of the end of June, Massa had $652,281 on hand, comparable to Kuhl with $618,864.
Seat turns blue: Massa 51% to Kuhl 49%
North Carolina (08) - Turns Blue
Incumbent: Robin Hayes, R, five terms. Re-match
The Tar Heel state is home to yet another "weak" GOP incumbent: Hayes won re-election in 2006 by only 329 votes. And his opponent was a political novice! The Fayetteville Observer reports that high school teacher Larry Kissell has a more sophisticated campaign this year. Hayes -- along with NC Sen. Elizabeth Dole -- is sitting out the GOP national convention, perhaps to tend to knitting at home.
Seat turns blue: Kissell 55% to 45%
The Tar Heel state is home to yet another "weak" GOP incumbent: Hayes won re-election in 2006 by only 329 votes. And his opponent was a political novice! The Fayetteville Observer reports that high school teacher Larry Kissell has a more sophisticated campaign this year. Hayes -- along with NC Sen. Elizabeth Dole -- is sitting out the GOP national convention, perhaps to tend to knitting at home.
Seat turns blue: Kissell 55% to 45%
Ohio (01) - Incumbent Loses, Turns Blue
Incumbent: Steve Chabot, R, seven terms.
Cincinnati is at the heart of OH-01, but Chabot doesn't have an option like that exercised by Ken Griffey, Jr. when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in August. It's all or nothing for Chabot, who defeated Democrat John Cranley by only 4% in 2006.
In 2008, Chabot is facing State House Minority Whip Steve Driehaus. At the end of June, Chabot had $1,311,547 on hand compared to Driehaus with $631,440. But Driehaus has the backing of the Democratic National Committee, which has set aside about $1 million for ads supporting Driehaus. This contest could prove to be a nail biter.
Seat turns blue: 51% to 49%
Cincinnati is at the heart of OH-01, but Chabot doesn't have an option like that exercised by Ken Griffey, Jr. when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in August. It's all or nothing for Chabot, who defeated Democrat John Cranley by only 4% in 2006.
In 2008, Chabot is facing State House Minority Whip Steve Driehaus. At the end of June, Chabot had $1,311,547 on hand compared to Driehaus with $631,440. But Driehaus has the backing of the Democratic National Committee, which has set aside about $1 million for ads supporting Driehaus. This contest could prove to be a nail biter.
Seat turns blue: 51% to 49%
Ohio (15) - Open Seat - Recount?
Incumbent: Deborah Pryce, R, eight terms. Not seeking re-election.
Pryce defeated challenger Mary Jo Kilroy by only 1,062 votes in November 2006; Kilroy is the Democratic nominee again in 2008. She faces Republican state Sen. Steve Stivers in November. In June, Kilroy had $1.16 million on hand; Stivers, $880,000. The district includes part of Columbus, the state capitol.
Seat remains red: 46% to 45% ?
Pryce defeated challenger Mary Jo Kilroy by only 1,062 votes in November 2006; Kilroy is the Democratic nominee again in 2008. She faces Republican state Sen. Steve Stivers in November. In June, Kilroy had $1.16 million on hand; Stivers, $880,000. The district includes part of Columbus, the state capitol.
Seat remains red: 46% to 45% ?
Ohio (16) - Open Seat - Turns Blue
Incumbent: Ralph Regula, R, 18 terms. Not seeking re-election.
Republican state senator Kirk Schuring faces Democratic state senator John Boccieri in November. President Bush won the district with 54% of the vote in 2004. At the end of June, Schuring had $348,939 on hand; Boccieri, $531,015.
Seat turns blue: 54% to 46%
Republican state senator Kirk Schuring faces Democratic state senator John Boccieri in November. President Bush won the district with 54% of the vote in 2004. At the end of June, Schuring had $348,939 on hand; Boccieri, $531,015.
Seat turns blue: 54% to 46%