With months left until the filing deadlines, I would imagine that we're far ahead of our previous paces for getting candidates. But 80 Republicans (according to
Barry Welsh's site) are unopposed. And it could be even higher.
So I'll do a short state by state overview of our situation.
If you know of anybody to run, then try and get them to at least run. At the very least, it's a nifty way to get yourself in a few books (such as almanacs). At the very most, you might impress people.
The overview is under the fold.
Alabama - There's 3 and a half months left for filing and the five Republicans are all unopposed. I suspect efforts are being undertaken to find opponents. The last time
Spencer Bachus faced a Democratic opponent was in 1998 (one of the longest streaks in the nation). I'd love to at least see somebody run against Bachus. AL-6 also looks a lot like a chicken-wing.
Alaska - Don Young has one opponent, who is a frequent candidate named Frank Vondersaar. I don't think Young has had a viable opponent since 1996 or so. I mean viable in the sense of "actually raises money". There has to be somebody who is daring enough to try and establish their statewide reputation in a very hard race, right?
Arizona - The biggest question mark would be AZ-06. That isn't meant as a shot against Kevin Jackson (who is running against Jeff Flake). It's just a statement as to how Arizona has filled every district with 7 months left until the filing deadline.
Arkansas - Apparently nobody other than Norman "Bill" Williams is running in AR-3. Even Williams is not confirmed. John Boozman's district is in Northwestern Arkansas, the most Republican part of Arkansas. Although I would imagine there's a good base of Democrats in that part of the state that could cushion a hard loss with 37% or so.
California - Nobody has declared against Herger. Gabe Castillo appears to be running in CA-3 against Lungren, although it's not totally confirmed. Radanovich, Nunes, Thomas, McKeon, and Lewis are all unopposed. Minor opponents have filed against Miller.
Delaware - With 8 months until the deadline, nobody has filed for the hard task of facing Michael Castle.
Florida - No opponents yet for Miller, Crenshaw, Mica, Young, Putnam, Mack, Ros-Lehtinen, and Mario Diaz-Balart. Dave Weldon, who was the main Florida meddler in the Schiavo thing, has a minor opponent.
Georgia - No opponents for 5 of 7 Republicans. Kingston has an opponent. Westmoreland presumably has an opponent. Price, Linder, Norwood, Deal, and Gingrey don't. I hope that changes soon.
Illinois - Somebody better file in the 18th.
Indiana - No opponent yet for Dan Burton. But this is Barryland, so I suspect that somebody is gonna run soon. (5 points are deducted from this diary for "Barryland")
Iowa - Nobody confirmed to face Latham. I would like it if someone like Kinkel was the candidate.
Kansas - Nobody confirmed to face Todd Tiahrt. I hear that Nancy Boyda will run against Jim Ryun again.
Kentucky - I know work is being done here. There's a month and a half left, and i'm sure somebody is going to run against Northup, Davis, or Rogers.
Louisiana - With almost 9 months left to file, McCrery, Alexander, Baker, and Boustany are all unopposed. Although in the case of the 5th district, time is still on our side when it comes to finding a reliable candidate.
Michigan - Nobody has been confirmed yet against Ehlers or Schwarz. With the possibility that Schwarz could lose his primary, we should be ready with somebody in November.
Minnesota - 8 months left to file, and no opponent for Jim Ramstad. With Ramstad's district becoming more blue every day, his retirement will likely lead to a Democrat getting elected. So, if anybody wants to get noticed first, maybe you can see if you can hold Ramstad below 70%.
Mississippi - No opponents for Wicker or Pickering. This changes if the rumored Lott retirement occurs. I mean changes as in "Either Wicker or Pickering will run." Neither man faced a Democrat in 2004 though. The deadline is on 3/1.
Missouri - Nobody for Blunt or Emerson. If somebody is willing to do it, they'd be in a tough race, but i'm sure that there's a lot of great scenary in Southern Missouri.
New Jersey - No opponents for Chris Smith or Rodney Frelinghuysen. Around 5 months left to file.
New Mexico - No opponent for Steve Pearce as of yet.
New York - Nobody yet for Peter King or Vito Fossella. Rumors do exist in NY-13, but there's 8 months left to file, and we've put candidates in 7 of 9 districts (6 of 9 if you don't count Davis in the 26th)
North Carolina - I hear rumors of an opponent named Allen Joines facing Virginia Foxx, which is good. I hope he runs. I hope that somebody also files to face Howard "DMCA" Coble.
Ohio - Nobody has stepped up to run for Oxley's seat (but that has probably changed). Nobody has declared against Boehner, or Tiberi.
Oklahoma - No opponents yet for Sullivan, Lucas, or Cole. Sorry, no maps, since their districts make up most of the state. But there's still 7 months or so left to file.
Oregon - Nobody yet for the vast domain of Greg Walden. But this district only came close to us when Wes Cooley was refusing to withdraw in 1996 (but he did, and we lost).
Pennsylvania - Nobody official to face Shuster or Dent. Dent's district is pretty purple, although some think that Dent is hard to beat.
South Carolina - Nobody official to face Brown, Wilson, or Inglis.
Tennessee - Nobody has declared to face Jenkins or Duncan, and if nobody files against Blackburn, then I know of a Kossack who will run.
Texas - Nobody has declared against Gohmert, Poe, Conaway, Granger, Thornberry, Bonilla, and Burgess. And those opponents due to face Sessions better file soon. It appears to be a heck of a day, weather-wise, in Texas.
Utah - I think candidates need to file before the Convention, then some voting will occur, then a primary will happen, or something complex like that. Either way, Bishop and Cannon are unopposed and Utah was friendlier to Utah Democrats than to John Kerry.
Virginia - No official opponents for Forbes, Goodlatte, Cantor, and Wolf. Goodlatte hasn't had a Democratic opponent since 1998 and that streak should end.
Wisconsin - Nobody official to face Tom Petri. But there's still 8 months left to file.
Various DCCC Updates: Since D-Trip relies on FEC filings, they run behind a lot. Although I should note that someguy named Richard Siferd is running in OH-4.
So that's all.
Now it's the time to mention things about people who could run, or how you have an unopposed Republican Reprsentative and you dislike him.