Republican Open Seats
Illinois, wide open with several candidates in both parties. The Democrats are given the early edge in the general election.
Oklahoma. Two term Democratic congressman Brad Carson announced he would run shortly after the incumbent said he wouldn't run again, and has effectively cleared the field. First State Treasuer Robert Butkin declined to run and yesterday State Attorney General Drew Edmondson did the same. Only a couple unknown candidates remain to challenge Carson.
On the Republican side, Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphries has become the favorite candidate of the national and state leaders, but at least one state senator appears to be balking and plans on running a primary challenge as an 'outsider'.
This will likely be a very competitive race.
Democrat Open Seats
1.Georgia, More bad news for the Democrats with Michelle Nunn announcing yesterday that she would not run. A few possible strong candidates remain, but they also seem unlikely.
The list of Democrats who have bowed out is pretty long:
- Thurbert Baker, State Attorney General
- Shirley Franklin, Mayor of Atlanta
- Michelle Nunn
- Kirby Godsey,65, Mercer University President, he considered running back in March and seemed to be a potentially interesting candidate: a non southern baptist minister.
- Andy Young, former mayor of Atlanta
- Max Cleland, despite pushing from some national Democrats, he has expressed absolutely no interest in trying to get back to the Senate
- & 8. Cathy Cox, State Secretary of State and Mark Taylor, Lieutenant Governor, both of whom are eying challenging incumbent Governor Sonny Perdue in 2006.
The remaining potential top tier candidates include:
- Michael Thurmond, the State Labour Commissioner. He is a reluctant candidate, but hasn't withdrawn completely.
- Jim Marshall, a congressperson first elected in 2002. He was elected by a narrow margin in his Macon based district and is unknown outside of the district.
If neither of those run, Democrats are looking at 4 other people:
- State Senator Carole Jackson
- lawyer Jim Butler
- State Senate Minority Leader Michael Meyer Von Bremen
- State House Speaker Pro Tem DuBose Porter (he's already said he'd be a reluctant candidate at best)
The only announced Democrat so far is State Senator Mary Squires who is largely considered unelectable after calling Governor Sonny Perdue "a racist".
The Republicans have 4 announced candidates who have raised a combined total of $3 million. While the Republicans obviously have a head start, they will face a competitive primary, and a Democrat could still make this a tight race.
South Carolina
Democrats have united behind State Education commissioner Inez Tenenbaum after Colombia mayor Bob Coble dropped out of the primary citing an inability to compete due to a late start fundraising.
Tenenbaum's only challenger is Marcus Belk who has the full support of the Larouchites.