Today was the filing deadline in WI as well as the second day of New York’s four day filing period. Wisconsin information is partial as some candidates have filed the paperwork but the state has not validated their signatures.
The big news is that each side in Wisconsin will field at least one candidate with no major party opposition. For Republicans, James Sensenbrenner will face a primary challenger (Jim Burkee) and an Independent on the fall ballot (Robert Raymond) but no Democrat. Gwen Moore (D, WI-4) will also face an Independent in the fall (Michael LaForest) but no Republican.
Four Democrats appear to have qualified to oppose Paul Ryan in WI-1 (Paulette Garin, Mike Hebert, Marge Krupp, John Mogk). They will meet in a September 9 primary. Roger Kittelson has the signatures to oppose Tom Petri in WI-6 (unopposed in 2006). He may (or may not) face Mark Wollom in a primary depending on the validation of signatures.
Signatures must also be validated for three Republicans seeking to make the ballot in Wisconsin. Surprisingly, one of them is John Gard. This may show a bit of weakness in his candidacy in WI-8. The others are Peter Theron in WI-2 (vs. Tammy Baldwin) and Paul Stark in WI-3 (vs. Ron Kind). Could there be another free ride?
In NY, two of the three Republican House incumbents who have actually expressed interest in retaining their seats have filed: Peter King and John McHugh. It will be interesting to see if a candidate emerges in NY-13 and what the deal is in NY-25 and how many free rides come out of Democratic districts in the City.
The number of Republican House members who have not yet filed or announced their retirement is down to four in the entire country: Steve Scalise (LA-1), Rodney Alexander (LA-5), Mike Castle (DE-At Large), and Randy Kuhl (NY-29). At this point, I expect all to run.
On the Democratic side, the biggest question mark as we wrap up filing remains whether we will find an opponent in NY-3 for Peter King. This is an eminently winnable seat. I think there may be a cattle call when King retires. Only when will that be?
An interesting side note is the number of high profile primary challenges to Democratic state senators and assembly members. Reading the Albany Project blog or the Albany Times-Union (local politics don’t seem as big in the NY City dailies), you’d think the state senate had already changed hands.