These are all states with filing deadlines in the first half of July
The numbers after each are a) Cook PVI and b) A rating of the district based on a model I created details here – basically a logistic model based on a lot of demographics; the number is the predicted probability of being Republican, based solely on the demographics (details here . I also have a model that includes Cook PVI, but, well….I give you the Cook number too.
WI has 8 congressional districts. 5 Democrats and 3 Republicans
LA has 7 congressional districts. 2 Democrats and 5 Republicans
MN has 8 congressional districts. 5 Democrats and 3 Republicans
The districts held by Democrats are
Confirmed
dist Cook Prob Repub Incumbent Challenger? rating
LA-02 D+28 .04 Jefferson No Safe for a Democrat,
primary possible
LA-03 R+5 .35 Melancon No Mostly safe
MN-01 R+1 .74 Walz Yes Somewhat vul
MN-04 D+13 .30 McCollum Yes Safe
MN-05 D+21 .22 Ellison Yes Safe
MN-07 R+6 .80 Peterson No Safe
MN-08 D+4 .80 Oberstar No Safe
WI-02 D+13 .65 Baldwin Yes Safe
WI-03 D+3 .81 Kind No Safe
WI-04 D+20 .12 Moore No Safe
WI-07 D+2 .79 Obey No Safe
WI-08 R+4 .73 Kagen Yes Somewhat vul
Those held by Republicans
LA-01 R+18 .50
If you picture LA as a boot, LA-01 is the top of the toes, bordering MS, lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico.
Jindal, first elected in 2004, won election as governor and will be retiring.
Gilda Reed is the only confirmed Democratic challenger.
LA-04 R+7 .36
LA-04 is the western edge of LA, bordering TX and AR
McCrery, first elected in 1988, has won easily in LA’s odd ‘primary only’ system, far outraising his opponents; now, he will retire
There are no confirmed challengers, but lots of interested parties.
LA-05 R+10 .39
LA-05 is the northeast part of the ‘leg’ of the boot.
Alexander, first elected in 2002, was a Democrat, but switched to the Republicans (what? he doesn’t like being in the majority?) In the 2006 runoff he won easily
No confirmed opponent
LA-06 R+7 .33
LA-06 is Baton Rouge and surrounding areas
Baker, first elected in 1986, is retiring
The only confirmed candidate (of either party!) is Don Cazayoux .
LA-07 R+7 .39
LA-07 is the southwestern part of LA, bordering TX and the Gulf
Boustany, first elected in 2004, had a fairly close race then, but won easily in 2006 against an underfunded opponent
There are no confirmed opponents.
MN-02 R+3 .78
MN-02 is the area south of the twin cities
Kline, first elected in 2002, has had reasonably challenging races, never getting over 56%
The only confirmed challenger is Steve Sarvi
MN-03 R+1 .66
MN-03 is the northern and western (and some southern) suburbs of the twin cities.
Ramstad, first elected in 1990, might (or might not) be retiring.
There are a couple of confirmed challengers: Terri Bonoff and Jigar Madia
MN-06 R+5 .84
MN-06 is an odd shaped district that includes a blob in the middle of MN, and then extends east to the WI border and wraps around the twin cities
Bachmann, first elected in 2006, won 50-42 against Wetterling, even though Wetterling raised more money ($3.1 million to $2.6 million).
There are two confirmed challengers: Bob Olson and Elwyn Tinklenberg (no web site)
WI-01 R+2 .66
WI-01 is the southeastern corner of WI, bordering IL and Lake Michigan
Ryan, first elected in 1998, has won easily against underfunded opponents
There are two confirmed challengers: Marge Krupp and Paulette Garin
WI-05 R+12 .76
WI-05 is in eastern WI, it wraps around Milwaukee, and borders Lake Michigan
Sensensbrenner, first elected in 1978, has won easily even when his opponents raised some funds. He might retire,
No confirmed challengers
WI-06 R+5 .76
WI-06 is central eastern WI, bordering Lake Michigan and running west to Marquette county
Petri, first elected in 1979, has not had a close race since 1992, and often has no opposition.
This year, his challenger is Roger Kittleson (no web site)
Summary
LA – I don’t know what’s going on in LA-06
MN – MN-03 is a definite opportunity. MN-02 might be
WI – Kagen is vulnerable – it’s a swing district and he’s had some controversy.