The fighting dem vets are alive and well, holding at circa 60 FDs despite primary casualties. Here is the current count as best I can make out from this week's survey. Anyone having additional information or corrections, please let me know. You can check the most recent chart on the main page of Fighting-Dems.com. The Muster Roll has not been revised to reflect the chart but will be updated soon. Information from the F-D.com site and VetPAC has been updated to reflect primary results.
63 FDs on the front lines.
50 FDs advancing to GE as nominees or unopposed in primaries.
12 FDs facing primaries
Summary: 50 FDs will challenge Republican incumbents for Senatorial or House of Representative seats. Up to 10 more Fighting Dems will run if they win in their primaries. There can only be 10 since two pairs of vet candidates are squaring off against each other.
We need 15 seats to win back the House so we have some good races cooking and the FDs could conceivably win back the majority on there own. With the large number of non-vet Fighting Dems also challenging Republican candidates it could be a great day in November if we all get behind the candidates.
Many have asked about Republican vets running. The survey showed that out of an original 39, 40 or so Republican vets running, only 26 have survived the primaries to date. The following compares the Republicans with the Dems (in parenthesis).
Republican Vets: 26 :: Fighting Dems 63
Republican Nominees or Unopposed: 13 :: Fighting Dems 50
Republicans facing primary challenges: 13 :: Fighting Dems 12
Summary: Fighting Dem vets outnumber Republicans well over 2 to 1. Both have about the same number facing primary challengers so the likelihood is that the ratio will increase the FDs lead. Further, only 11 of those facing primaries can win since like the FDs there are two pairs of GOP vets facing each other.
See
The Chart on
Where the Fighting Dems Stand
State by State Summary:
AZ: 3 face primary challenges.
Gene Sharer CD 4, the '04 candidate, is in race with a couple of other candidates. Herb Paine in CD 3 has one Dem opponent. Jeff Latas CD 8 faces a large field of candidates for a very vulnerable distinct where Jim Kolbe, 12th term GOP incumbent, is retiring. Jeff also faces Alex Rodriguez another Dem vet and two GOP vets. This will be interesting to watch. The primary is September 12th.
CA: 4 nominees
Nominees in CA are Bill Durston CD 3, Charlie Brown CD 4, Jim Brandt CD 45, and John Rinaldi CD 52.
CO: 2 nominees
Jay Fawcett CD 5 and Bill Winter CD 6 have a great opportunity to beat their Republican opponents as the polls are encouraging. Both Jay and Bill are seasoned bloggers on dKos.
DE: 1 unopposed.
Dennis Spivack faces a minor challenge from a candidate running in both the Dem and Independent primaries. His campaign is kicking into high gear..
FL: 8 candidates: 4 unopposed, 4 facing primary challenges
Vietnam Vet Joe Roberts is unopposed in CD 1 facing 3rd term GOP incumbent Jeff Miller. He isn't getting much attention down there. He could use a helping hand. Rick Penberthy's campaign is riding high in CD 5. He faces a field of Dem opponents in the primary after the seat of Ginny Brown-Waite the 2nd term GOP incumbent. Dave Bruderly with a great resume is unopposed facing Cliff Stearns, 9th term GOP incumbent. Jack Chagnon in CD 7 is unopposed but a nearly invisible candidate who has not shown up recently and no contact has been possible as yet. Bill Mitchell CD 9 withdrew to support Phyllis Busansky who has a shot at the seat vacated by retiring GOP Representative Mike Bilirakis. Decorated Vietnam vet Bob Bowman CD 15 must defeat one primary opponent (disabled vet John M. Kennedy) before he is able to face 6th term GOP incumbent Dave Weldon. Chief Warrant Office Big Dave Patlak, former candidate in CD 18, is unopposed and will face 9th term GOP incumbent Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. The Florida primary is set for September 5th.
GA: 1 unopposed.
Jim Nelson will face 7th term GOP incumbent Jack Kingston.
IL: 5 nominees
It will be Tammy Duckworth vs. Peter J. Roskam (IL-06) and Jonathan "John" Laesch vs. speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (IL-14), Richard "Dick" Auman vs. Donald A. Manzullo (IL-16), Phil Hare (IL-17), and Steve Waterworth vs. Ray Lahood (IL-18).
IN: 1 nominee
Tom Hayhurst in CD 3 will face off against Mark Souder, 6th term GOP incumbent.
KY: 3 nominees.
Mike Weaver CD 2, former Congressman Ken Lucas CD 4 and Ken Stepp CD 5.
MD: 2 facing primary challenges.
Mishonda Baldwin CD 3 is running in a large field of Dem candidates to take the seat being vacated by Ben Cardin who is running for Senate. Andrew Duck CD 6 faces two primary challengers to go up against Roscoe Bartlett, 7th term GOP incumbent. They have both blogged live with us on kos. The primary is September 12th.
MI: 1 nominee
Jim MARCINKOWSKY, vet and intelligence expert, is unopposed and will challenge 3rd term Mike Rogers in November.
MN: 1 no primary challenger.
Command Sergeant Major Tim Walz leads the charge in MN-01..
MO: 3 nominees.
George "Boots" Weber CD 2, Jack Truman CD 7 and Duane Burghard CD 9.
NC: 1 nominee.
Craig Weber (NC-03) will run against Walter B. Jones, 6th term GOP incumbent.
NJ: 1 nominee.
Fighting Dem Rich Sexton will face 11th term GOP incumbent Jim Saxton. Sexton NOT Saxton for Congress!
NY: 3 unopposed.
Bob Johnson is unopposed in NY-23 and this race is given four stars by DC Political Report. FD Ken Howland NY-25 withdrew to support another candidate. In NY-26 Jack Davis, businessman and the '04 nominee, is unopposed. Eric Massa is unopposed in NY-29 running in one of the most vulnerable districts in the U.S. against Randy "Rubberstamp" Kuhl. Five stars from DC Political Report.
OH: 2 nominees
Richard Siferd (OH-04) is running for a seat vacated by GOP incumbent Michael Oxley who is retiring after 13 terms. Four stars from DC Political Report. This district is very competitive with an excellent Fighting Dem vet candidate. Bill Conner is running in OH-07.
OK: 1 nominee.
Bert Smith is lost his primary battle, but Fighting Dem vet and career diplomat Hal Spake has a superb resume in OK-04.
PA: 4 nominees. .
Vice Admiral Joe Sestak will fact 10th term Curt Weldon, Patrick Murphy will face 1st term Michael Fitzpatrick, Chris Carney will face 4th term Don Sherwood, and Phil Avillo will face 2nd term Todd Platts.
RI: 1 primary challenge.
Carl Sheeler is running for Senate in a large Dem field for a vulnerable district. The major Dem opponent is Sheldon Whitehouse. Carl's line, "One Whitehouse in DC is enough." This is a likely win for the Democratic nominee against 1st term Lincoln Chafee who also faces a primary challenge.
SC: 2 nominees
Lee Ballinger (SC-03) won the primary to face J. Gresham Barrett, a 2nd term GOP incumbent and William Griffith (SC-04) will face Bob Inglis.
TN: 1 nominee.
Terry Stulce (TN-03) lost his primary challenge. Bill Morrison is the nominee in TN-07.
TX: 7 nominees. .
Dan Dodd (TX-03) will face 8th term GOP incumbent Sam Johnson. Charlie Thompson (TX-05) will face 2nd term GOP incumbent Jeb Hensarling. David Harris (TX-06) will face 11th term TOP incumbent Joe Barton. Ted Ankrum (TX-10) will face 1st term Mike McCaul. Roger Waun (TX-13) will face Mac Thornberry. John Courage (TX-21), the '02 nominee, will face Lamar Smith. Rick Bolanos (TX-23) will face Henry Bonilla.
VA: 2 nominees.
Jim Webb for Senate and Al Weed for the House of Representatives. Vet Bern Ewert lost in a caucus to vet Al Weed.
WI
John Curry, and ex-marine, was campaign manager for a vet who dropped out. John jumped into the trenches and is running unopposed but failed to meet his petition deadline. He says he will run as a write in candidate.
Current Status of Fighting Dem Challenges.
No fewer than 50 Fighting Dem vets will challenge incumbent Republican seats in November. As many as 60 if a vet wins each of the primaries where he or she is challenged.
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Noel Schutz