ANFSCD = "And now for something completely different"
Basically, this will not be a diary which talks about Howard Dean, or the RNC's latest internet ad, or anything like that. It will not talk about the mass use of framing. I am considering typing some stuff on trying to go for Suburban votes, but that will wait.
Basically this diary will be an open forum for the following:
-Rumors about races in 2006
-Republican Congressmen who you really dislike who deserve opposition (it's your preference if you check here or here to see if anybody is running)
-News about races in 2006
-Places that we really should get candidates for 2006
Some more under the fold.
When it comes to the rumors, nothing has really occured this week. I say that is partly due to how cold it has been. I'm sure that's a factor. There may be other factors, at least in the "Candidate's committee posts a diary on dKos" category.
Right now, there's around 84 or so unopposed candidates. Before we fret over that, remember that the Republicans don't seem to have anybody who has announced this early. They have around 280 candidates (including their incumbents). So at the very least, we're good at underachieving. At the worst, we're still doomed forever.
State by state opposition reports-
Alabama: All of the Alabama Republicans are unopposed right now. Jo Bonner. Terry Everett. Michael Rogers. Robert Aderholt. Spencer Bachus. Bachus was the only one without opposition in 2004. So hopefully people will show up soon and file in Alabama. They have until April 7th.
Alaska: If somebody legitimate or more legitimate than Frank Vondersaar wishes to run, then do it. Although it should be noted that Vondersaar beat Teresa Obermayer for the nomination to face Ted Stevens in 2002.
Arizona: We have a guy named John Thrasher running against Trent Franks in AZ-2. Politics1 lists a candidate named Kevin Anderson against Jeff Flake. The DCCC doesn't have list him. Anderson's site also appears to be nonexistant. Expect at least 6 more candidates in AZ-8, and the winner to have 25% of the vote.
Arkansas: Nobody is declared against John Boozman, although ActBlue lists a candidate. Nothing is in stone there.
California: Herger might have an opponent in the wings. Lungren could be facing the same guy as he faced in 2004. Doolittle has opponents. Radanovich, Nunes, Thomas, and McKeon don't have opponents. Dreier does have an opponent named Russell Warner. Nobody is official against Jerry Lewis or Ken Calvert.
Colorado: Bill Winter is running and expect him to be lively. Especially against such a controversial figure as Tancredo.
Connecticut: How about a sweep here?
Delaware: How about a Democrat here? (seriously, is everybody just going to wait until Castle leaves?)
Florida: No opponents for Miller, Crenshaw, Mica, Bill Young, Adam Putnam, Connie Mack, Illeana Ros-Lehtinen, or Mario Diaz-Balart.
Georgia: Nobody has announced to face Price, Linder, Norwood, Deal, or Gingrey. Although that's partly due to problems with figuring out which district they'll be in for the 110th congress.
Illinois: 95% of discussion involves Cegelis. I'll avoid that. Do we have any good news about people filing before the 19th? The 16th appears to have a candidate. The 18th might have one. The 19th could use a sane candidate.
Indiana: Dan Burton is still unopposed.
Iowa: So is Tom Latham, although rumors exist.
Kansas: Rumors have been spread that Nancy Boyda will run in 2006. Now all we need is a candidate for the Wichita-based 4th District.
Kentucky: We have a search (in the 3rd), a draft (in the 4th), and nobody (in the 5th). Hopefully Ken Lucas will choose to run and take out Geoff Davis.
Louisiana: The filing deadline is on the 11th of August. And so far, four of the Republicans, including Rodney Alexander, are unopposed. Feel free to use this as inspiration for "Katrina has changed things" scenarios.
Michigan: We might just be down to Ehlers when it comes to unopposed candidates. Although somebody major should run in MI-7, in case Walberg wins.
Minnesota: Nobody has declared against Ramstad. The deadline is in July. Time exists.
Mississippi: Nobody is running. Which is the same as 2004. But i'd hope somebody runs against the two Republicans. I don't know if the season for campaigning would conflict with being in the state Government, but if it doesn't, then a run could be good for moving up in the political world.
Missouri: Nobody official against Roy Blunt or Jo Ann Emerson. But I would expect that to change.
Nebraska: Nobody against Fortenberry. Last I checked, he was also meddling in something involving casinos on the coast of Mississippi and federal money, or something similar.
Nevada: We have a person in the two Republican seats, although I wouldn't mind an improvement in NV-3.
New Jersey: Nobody official against Chris Smith or Rodney Frelinghuysen.
New Mexico: Nobody against Steve Pearce.
New York: Peter King and Vito Fossella deserve opponents. Don't they? :D
North Carolina: There's somebody in every district other than the 5th and the 6th. I've heard rumors in the 5th, none in the 6th.
Ohio: One minor candidate against Schmidt. Nobody (yet) in the 4th. Nobody in the 8th and 12th.
Oklahoma: Nobody is facing Sullivan (who is ripe for defeat), Lucas, or Cole. Sullivan might be tougher if he actually did something other than be a Republican.
Oregon: Greg Walden is unopposed for his "Huge part of Oregon" district.
Pennsylvania: The 5th, 9th, and 15th are devoid of Dems. John Peterson didn't face a Dem in 2004. Shuster is in a pretty red district. Dent is in a district that Kerry won.
South Carolina: No official opponents for Brown, Wilson, or Inglis.
Tennessee: Nobody against Jenkins or Duncan. And somebody on here swears they'll face Blackburn if nobody else does.
Texas: Nobody is running against Poe, Conaway, Granger, Thornberry, Marchant, or Burgess. Rumors exist in regards to Bonilla's seat. Gohmert will get an opponent, we hope.
Utah: Nobody yet, it's Utah, remember?
Virginia: Nobody against Forbes, Goodlatte, the Abramoff-connected Cantor, or Wolf.
Washington: The DTrip lists Doc Hastings as the only unopposed candidate right now.
Wisconsin: Nobody has stepped up to face Petri.
So, to make up for that very dry list.. here's another list, and a poll will end this diary.
Filing Deadlines:
Illinois - December 19th, 2005
Texas - January 2nd, 2006
West Virginia - January 28th, 2006
Kentucky - 4PM on January 31st, 2006
Ohio - February 16th, 2006
Indiana - Noon on February 17th, 2006
North Carolina - Noon on February 28th, 2006
Mississippi - March 1st, 2006
Nebraska - March 1st, 2006
Oregon - March 7th, 2006 (Walden [2] doesn't have an opponent right now)
Pennsylvania - March 7th, 2006
California - March 10th, 2006
Maine - March 15th, 2006
Idaho - March 17th, 2006
Iowa - March 17th, 2006
Utah - March 17th, 2006
Montana - March 23rd, 2006
Missouri - March 28th, 2006
New Mexico - March 29th, 2006
South Carolina - Noon on March 30th, 2006
South Dakota - April 4th, 2006
Arkansas - Noon on April 4th, 2006
Tennessee - Noon on April 6th, 2006
Alabama - April 7th, 2006
New Jersey - April 10th, 2006
Virginia - 5pm on April 14th, 2006
North Dakota - April 17th, 2006
Georgia - April 28th, 2006
Florida - May 12th, 2006
Nevada - May 12th, 2006
Michigan - 4pm on May 16th, 2006
Colorado - May 25th, 2006
Alaska - June 1st, 2006
Wyoming - June 2nd, 2006
Massachusetts - June 6th, 2006
Oklahoma - June 7th, 2006
Kansas - June 12th, 2006
Arizona - June 14th, 2006
New Hampshire - June 16th, 2006
Rhode Island - June 28th, 2006
Connecticut - Late June 2006
Maryland - July 3rd, 2006
Wisconsin - July 11th, 2006
New York - July 13th, 2006
Vermont - July 17th, 2006
Minnesota - July 18th, 2006
Hawaii - July 25th, 2006
Delaware - Noon on July 28th, 2006
Washington - July 28th, 2006
Louisiana - August 11th, 2006
And it's poll time!