My practice the last couple of election cycles has been to focus my election work on U.S. House races in districts that could conceivably be competitive in the several states most likely to be close in the Presidential contest. My belief is that a buck from me to one of those U.S. House races will do more to get-out-the-vote where it matters most in the Presidential race than a buck to the Presidential campaign. And it helps in the fight for the House. In selecting states and identifying races, I have relied heavily on the purveyors of conventional wisdom (i.e., Cook, Rothenberg, Sabato, et al.).
Following are mile-down-the-road first thoughts:
1. Colorado
No Congressional race appears interesting.
2. Florida
Democrat
Corrine Brown
Republicans
Sandy Adams
David Rivera
Tom Rooney
Dan Webster
Allen West
C. W. Bill Young
For the discerning:
Corrine Brown is a Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Sandy Adams and Allen West are Members of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus.
3. Indiana
Republican
Larry Bucshon
Democrat
Joe Donnelly’s open seat
For the discerning:
Joe Donnelly is a Member of the Congressional Blue Dog Caucus.
4. Iowa
Democrats
Leonard Boswell
Bruce Braley
Dave Loebsack
Republican
Steve King
For the discerning:
Leonard Boswell is a Member of the Congressional Blue Dog Caucus.
[Disclosure: I have contributed to Boswell in each of the last two election cycles.]
Dave Loebsack is a Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Steve King is a Member of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus.
5. Maine
Neither Congressional race appears interesting.
6. Michigan
Republicans
Dan Benishek
Tim Walberg
Thad McCotter
Democrat
Gary Peters
For the discerning:
Tim Walberg is a Member of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus.
7. Minnesota
Republicans
Michelle Bachmann
Chip Cravaack
John Kline
Erik Paulsen
For the discerning:
Michelle Bachmann is Chair of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus.
8. Nebraska
Republican
Lee Terry
9. Nevada
Republican
Joe Heck
The vacant Nevada 2nd
10. New Hampshire
Republican
Charlie Bass
Frank Guinta
11. New Mexico
Democrat
Martin Heinrich’s open seat
12. North Carolina
Republican
Renee Ellmers
Democrats
Larry Kissell
Mike McIntyre
Brad Miller
Heath Shuler
For the discerning:
Mike McIntyre and Heath Shuler are Members of the Congressional Blue Dog Caucus.
And Shuler is a Blue Dog Co-Chair.
I contributed to Kissell in the last election cycle.
13. Ohio
Republicans
Steve Chabot
Bob Gibbs
Bill Johnson
Jim Renacci
Steve Stivers
Patrick Tiberi
Democrats
Dennis Kucinich
Betty Sutton
For the discerning:
Dennis Kucinich is a Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
14. Pennsylvania
Republicans
Lou Barletta
Charlie Dent
Mike Fitzpatrick
Jim Gerlach
Mike Kelly
Pat Meehan
Democrats
Jason Altmire
Mark Critz
Tim Holden
For the discerning:
Jason Altmire and Tim Holden and are Members of the Congressional Blue Dog
Caucus.
15. Virginia
Democrat
Gerry Connolly
16. Wisconsin
Republican
Sean Duffy
Democrat
Ron Kind