United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2008

On November 4, 2008, all 13 members of North Carolina's delegation to the United States House of Representatives will be up for reelection to the 111th United States Congress. This will coincide with the presidential, gubernatorial, U.S. Senate, Council of State, and statewide judicial elections. The party primary elections were held May 6, 2008.

Currently, North Carolina's congressional delegation consists of seven Democrats and six Republicans.

The races not forecasted as safe for the incumbent party are districts 8 and 10.

District breakdown

District 1

This district, located in the northeastern portion of the state, is represented by Democrat G.K. Butterfield, who first won it in a 2004 special election. It is the only majority-black district in the state, and is overwhelmingly Democratic (Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+9). It is one of the few districts in the former Confederacy that hasn't elected a Republican since the end of Reconstruction. This is not likely to change in 2008. Butterfield is opposed by Republican William A. "Dean" Stephens. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-01 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC01&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 2

This district includes several suburban and rural areas near Raleigh, Rocky Mount and Fayetteville. It has been represented by Democrat Bob Etheridge since 1997. The district is a swing district on paper (CPVI of R+3); it narrowly supported Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and gave equally narrow margins to George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. However, Etheridge is very popular in this area. In 2008, he faces his 2006 opponent, Republican Dan Mansell, and Libertarian [http://www.adkinsforcongress.com Will Adkins] . CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-02 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC02&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 3

This district stretches along the northeastern and east-central portions of the state, including the Outer Banks. It has been represented by Republican Walter B. Jones, Jr. since 1995. Although Democrats have a 14-point plurality of registered voters, Jones had long been thought to have an unbreakable hold on this district. Much of this area had been part of the 1st prior to 1993, and Jones's father, popular 14-term Democrat Walter Jones, Sr., is still an icon in this region. However, Jones's voting record has shifted increasingly to the center for some time, and he has become one of the most vocal Republican opponents of the Iraq War. This has caused considerable chagrin among Republicans in his district. Onslow County Commissioner Joe McLaughlin announced in mid-2007 that he would challenge Jones in the Republican primary. Jones defeated McLaughlin in the May 6 primary, with about 60 percent of the vote. 2006 Democratic nominee Craig Weber won his party's primary over Marshall Adame, carrying about 70 percent of the vote. The district has a CPVI of R+15--a three-way statistical tie for the most Republican district in the state, making it a very difficult pickup for Democrats on paper. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-03 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC03&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 4

This district includes the heart of the Triangle area, including part of Raleigh and all of Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It has been represented by Democrat David Price since 1997 (he previously represented the 4th from 1987 to 1995). Despite a CPVI of only D+5, the influence of the state's three major research universities plus Price's status as an Appropriations subcommittee chairman (or "Cardinal") make Price a heavy favorite. Two Republicans competed in a May primary for the right to face Price: Augustus Cho and William (B.J.) Lawson. Lawson won, with about 70 percent of the vote. Libertarian Maximillian Longley is also running in the general election. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-04 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC04&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 5

Democrats Roy Carter and Diane Hamby filed to run against incumbent Virginia Foxx. Carter won the May 6 primary, with just over 50 percent of the vote. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-05 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC05&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 6

Democrats Johnny J. Carter, Jay Ovittore, and Teresa Sue Bratton ( [http://www.teresasuebratton.com/ campaign website] ) filed to run against incumbent Howard Coble. Bratton won the May 6 primary, with 61 percent of the vote. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-06 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC06&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 7

Republican Will Breazeale is opposing incumbent Mike McIntyre. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-07 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC07&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 8

In a rematch from 2006, Democrat Larry Kissell faces incumbent Robin Hayes. Kissell came up only 329 votes short of upsetting Hayes in their first race. Libertarian Thomas Hill is also running. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-08 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC08&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.pollster.com/polls/nc/08-nc-08-ge-hvk.php Hayes (R-i) vs Kissell (D)] graph of collected poll results from "Pollster.com"

District 9

Ross Overby and Harry Taylor ran in the Democratic primary, and incumbent Sue Myrick faced opposition from Jack Stratton in the Republican primary. Taylor defeated Overby, with about 58 percent of the vote, while Myrick easily won re-nomination with 92 percent of the vote. Libertarian Andy Grum is also running. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-09 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC09&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 10

Daniel Johnson defeated Steve Ivester in the May 6 Democratic primary, with about 60 percent of the vote. Incumbent Patrick McHenry won the Republican primary, garnering about 67 percent of the vote in a race against attorney Lance Sigmon. [http://www.charlotte.com/elections/story/613103.html] CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican', but Cook Political Report ranks it as 'Likely Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-10 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://dccc.org/blog/archives/cook_report_upgrades_27_democratic_races/ Race Rankings] from Cook Political Report
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC10&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.pollster.com/polls/nc/08-nc-10-ge-mvj.php McHenry (R-i) vs Johnson (D)] graph of collected poll results from "Pollster.com"

District 11

First-term incumbent Heath Shuler will face Carl Mumpower, who won a three-way Republican primary that included Spence Campbell and John C. Armor. Shuler is favored, since he does not face opposition from the man he defeated in 2006, former Rep. Charles H. Taylor. Libertarian Keith Smith is also running. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-11 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC11&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 12

Incumbent Mel Watt is the heavy favorite over little-known Republican and U.S. Army veteran Ty Cobb, Jr. (no known relation to the baseball legend, Ty Cobb). [http://www.salisburypost.com/area/303949762461048.php] CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-12 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC12&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 13

Incumbent Brad Miller will face Republican former state senator Hugh Webster, after easily defeating little-known Derald Hafner in the Democratic primary, with 88 percent of the vote. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NC-13 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NC13&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

ee also

*North Carolina congressional districts

References

* [http://www.charlotte.com/elections/story/613100.html Congressional Wrap-up, Charlotte Observer, May 7, 2008]
* [http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/1875/3985/en/summary.html State Board of Elections: Primary Election Results]
* [http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/Cand/Filed/CandidateList.pdf State Board of Elections: Candidate Filings]
* [http://www.lpnc.org/news.php?news=20080630.php Libertarians File List of 2008 Candidates]

External links

* [http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/ North Carolina State Board of Elections]
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=NC&go33.x=6&go33.y=7 U.S. Congress candidates for North Carolina] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/North+Carolina North Carolina U.S. House Races] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=NC Campaign contributions for North Carolina congressional races] from OpenSecrets.org