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.
Pennsylvania (10) - Remains Blue
Incumbent: Chris Carney, D, one-term.
Freshman Rep. Carney is the first Democrat to represent PA-10 since 1961. He is facing Republican Chris Hackett in November. Hackett's end-of-June financials looked bleak: net receipts of $2,010,359; net distribution of $1,955,778; $266,816 on hand; and $740,000 in debt. Carney, on the other hand, had $1,149,938 on hand and no debt.
Seat remains blue: 56 to 44%
Freshman Rep. Carney is the first Democrat to represent PA-10 since 1961. He is facing Republican Chris Hackett in November. Hackett's end-of-June financials looked bleak: net receipts of $2,010,359; net distribution of $1,955,778; $266,816 on hand; and $740,000 in debt. Carney, on the other hand, had $1,149,938 on hand and no debt.
Seat remains blue: 56 to 44%
Texas (22) - Remains Red
Incumbent: Nick Lampson, D, four terms then one-term.
Lampson served in the House from 1997-2005; he lost after his district was redrawn by the Republican-led state legislature. In 2006, he went back to Congress after winning the seat vacated by former Republican majority leader Tom DeLay. In 2008, he faces Republican Pete Olson, former aide to Sen. Gramm and Cornyn. The district, which encompasses much of south Houston, is considered Republican. This is one of the best chances for the GOP to win a contested seat.
Seat remains red: 53% to 45%
Lampson served in the House from 1997-2005; he lost after his district was redrawn by the Republican-led state legislature. In 2006, he went back to Congress after winning the seat vacated by former Republican majority leader Tom DeLay. In 2008, he faces Republican Pete Olson, former aide to Sen. Gramm and Cornyn. The district, which encompasses much of south Houston, is considered Republican. This is one of the best chances for the GOP to win a contested seat.
Seat remains red: 53% to 45%
Washington (08) - Remains Red
Government Photo
Incumbent: Dave Reichert, R, two term. Re-match.
In 2004, Reichert replaced retiring Rep. Jennifer Dunn, a Republican. He was re-elected in 2006 with only 51.31% of the vote. His opponent, Democrat Darcy Burner, is again running for the seat. At the end of June (FEC), Burner had $1.2 million on hand compared to Reichert's $916,401. How unhappy are Seattle's Eastsiders with Iraq, gas prices and stagflation? That answer is the clue to this race, which is looking like a toss-up.
Seat remains red: 52% to 48%
In 2004, Reichert replaced retiring Rep. Jennifer Dunn, a Republican. He was re-elected in 2006 with only 51.31% of the vote. His opponent, Democrat Darcy Burner, is again running for the seat. At the end of June (FEC), Burner had $1.2 million on hand compared to Reichert's $916,401. How unhappy are Seattle's Eastsiders with Iraq, gas prices and stagflation? That answer is the clue to this race, which is looking like a toss-up.
Seat remains red: 52% to 48%