Weekly Open Thread: What Races Are You Interested In?

Who do you love, and who loves you?

Update (Trent): We thought we’d shake things up a bit this week with a caption contest.  This time, see what you can come up with for this photo of Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks (second from left) and Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright.

29 thoughts on “Weekly Open Thread: What Races Are You Interested In?”

  1. http://web.mit.edu/derrict/www

    I’m close to adding Obama and Wesley Clark for P/VP.

    I’m also closely watching the ID-01 race, even though I haven’t listed it–well, as closely as I can being several thousand miles on my college campus.  Mainly, news, polls, youtube videos, etc..  Between Larry Grant, Rand Lewis, and Walt Minnick, I’m leaning toward Lewis for being the best speaker (based on their performance in the Ada County banquet speeches), but Grant has just finnished a near-successful run last cycle (or as close to successful as he could get in a place like Idaho).  So yeah, no endorsement there yet.

    And yes, I know, Andrew Horne is out, but I’m endorsing him anyway.

  2. I’m interested in the GA 1st congressional district race between Lt. Colonel Bill Gillespie (D-GA) & Jack Kingston (R-GA). Gillespie has been getting alot of positive feedback from voters in the 1st district who is looking for a new leader for the district as well as the Ga Senate race. Josh Lanier (D-GA) is going to run for the democratic nomination to face Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) in november. Also there are rumblings that State Senator Michael Meyer von Bremen (D-GA) who will not seek re-election to his seat may jump into the race once the state legislative session ends on March 30. And the Georgia 11th congressional district race in which Iraq War veteran Scott Holcombe (D-GA) might take on Phil Gingrey (R-GA) for the seat in the fall.

  3. to see who even shows up to run in OR-05. Mike Erickson, who ran against Hooley in 2006, is running again, but his candidacy last time was amateur hour and the state GOP might want someone who’s actually won a race before (or failing that, someone who’s lost higher-profile races before, like 2002 governor candidate Kevin Mannix). Nothing but question marks on the Democratic side right now. (Paul Evans seems to be at the top of people’ lists, perhaps because he’s the husband of Hooley’s current chief of staff.) Here’s Blue Oregon‘s rundown:


    REPUBLICANS

    Mike Erickson is still the only candidate in the race – and he’s been running forever. The day Hooley announced her retirement, he dropped $340,000 of his own money in the race, presumably to forestall other GOPers.

    Publicly reported as considering the race: Clackamas County Commissioner Bill Kennemer, four-time statewide loser Kevin Mannix, Kulongoski aide Allen Alley, and Rep. Brian Boquist (R-Dallas).

    Rep. Vicki Berger (R-Salem) and Rep. Scott Bruun (R-West Linn) have said they’re not running.

    DEMOCRATS

    So far, no Democrats have jumped in. There’s a healthy list of candidates considering the race, however: Former Monmouth Mayor and Kulongoski aide Paul Evans, Oregon National Guard General Mike Caldwell, Labor Commissioner Dan Gardner, former Rep. Bryan Johnston (D-Salem), Sen. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby), and Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader.

    Rep. Brian Clem (D-Salem), Rep. Greg Macpherson (D-Lake Oswego), and Dave Hunt (D-Milwaukie) are not running – as are candidates Steve Novick and John Kroger.

  4. If this state were in the Lower 48, it would be the ongoing scandal of the new century — oil-fueled corruption that taints a state’s entire congressional delegation. Amazingly, Sen. Lisa Murkowski is the clean one. I just watched Rep. Don Young’s snarky media availability at adn.com — a must see! His arrogance is absolutely stunning. You know things are going badly for Young when the state’s republican governor says publicly that he has some explaining to do. And the announcement that Sen. Ted “Internets” Stevens is running again is also music to the ears. Would there be anything sweeter than to see these crumb bums lose in November? Well, yeah, but I’ll settle…

  5. Now that Renzi is extremely indicted (35 is a lot of charges!), I wonder if there’ll be a special. I think it’ll be easier for a good candidate to pick up this seat before November when McCain is on top of the ballot.

  6. http://www.startribune.com/pol

    State Sen. Dick Day will skip over the Republican party endorsement and run in a primary in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District.

    Day says he wants the voters to decide which Republican challenges Democratic U.S. Representative Tim Walz.

    Day says the September primary election is more democratic than letting a few hundred GOP activists pick the candidate at a district convention.

    I have never been a fan of the caucus/convention endorsement system in Minnesota. IMO all canidates from both parties should go to the primary. That having been said a contested September primary on the Republican side is good news for Freshman Dem Tim Walz.

  7. I know, primary season, not a favorite subject around here.

    But I have to give props to my associate, MattTX, for this incredible analysis of how the Texas primary/caucus will play out, district by district, delegate by delegate, demographic ny demographic. Complete with tables, pictures, links, maps, etc.

    A worthy read for serious numberwangs.

  8. The Alabama Democratic Party chair insists that a good candidate is forthcoming. We’re waiting.  

    Is Vivian Figures going to scale down her ambitions and get into the Congressional race, so that Ron Sparks can jump into the Senate race?  If so, that will make a lot of us happy, but it needs to happen soon enough to get a couple of campaigns off the ground and running. Anyone heard anything?

  9. Writing the Florida diary got me thinking about how veterans may play a key role in several elections in that state.

    Traditionally, of course, veterans tend to be highly Republican.  But I think this is changing, and I think it could be momentous in some races

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