Election Roundup -- House of Representatives 2006 
Inside the poll, however, voters still say they prefer Republicans to manage the war in Iraq and to deal with homeland security. Since the Republicans have failed miserably in both those departments, I can only guess that the Republican's framing of Democrats as soft on security still stands. As usual, Democrats win on social and domestic issues. Unfortunately, we all know that, in a climate of fear, whether real or imagined, voters don't vote based on shared domestic policy positions.
Also impacting the 2006 elections is an emerging Anti-Incumbent Mood. The US News Bulletin Reports:
Both Republican and Democratic strategists said this week that they are becoming more concerned that voters are in an anti-incumbent mood going into the 2006 elections. However, despite polling that backs up those worries, there is no indication yet that this year could see a 1994-style revolt that would turn over power in the House or Senate to Democrats. "There's something going on out there," said Joe Trippi, who ran Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign. "I think we are seeing a disaffection with both parties," he said, but added that this year won't lead to a "watershed" change. Trippi spoke yesterday at a conference sponsored by Dartmouth College. A senior Republican Party official agreed with him, but took heart in the inability of the Democrats to seize the advantage with popular alternative policies and candidates. A GOP House leadership aide, meanwhile, told US News Bulletin that the mood is weighing on votes by members who are trying to steer clear of unpopular issues like the Administration's support for letting an Arab firm take control of some US port operations. "They might not like us but they like us more than the president," said a GOP leadership advisor who suggested that more Republicans will try to take positions different from the White House to express their independence from the Administration.
So this is the environment we're faced with. Below is an overview of some of the important developments over the last week regarding seats for the US House of Representatives. Tomorrow we'll tackle the senate and the White House.
New York, 24th CD
Republican Boehlert To Retire. Republican Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, "the senior Republican in New York's Congressional delegation and a leading House moderate, announced Friday that he would not seek a 13th term." Boehlert's retirement in New York's 24th CD "creates the 18th Republican House vacancy heading into November; his district isn't in the top tier of competitive open GOP seats, but it isn't far down the list." The New York Times reports Boehlert's "departure provides an added opportunity for Democrats who need 15 seats to gain control of the House of Representatives."
Minnesota, 5th CD
Martin Sabo To Retire From Safe Democratic Seat. Democratic Rep. Martin Sabo "announced Saturday that he will retire at the end the 109th Congress instead of seeking a 15th term, as he previously said he would." Many Minnesota political observers "believe that Sabo's chief of staff, Mike Erlandson, who surrendered the chairmanship of the state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party last year, is the early frontrunner" to replace him in the heavily Democratic district.
Illinois 6th CD
Disabled Iraq Vet Wins Dem House Primary In Illinois. Tammy Duckworth, the Iraq veteran who lost her legs when her Blackhawk helicopter was hit by an RPG, won the Democratic primary for Illinois' 6th CD. Duckworth was "wooed by Democrats looking to get credibility on security issues." CNN's The Situation Room called Duckworth "the Polaris in a galaxy of Democratic hopes this election year, running in the once solidly Republican, now evolving, west suburbs of Chicago for a seat long held by Republican Henry Hyde."
Duckworth "is now leading the charge for the Fighting Democrats." In November, Duckworth "will face state Sen. Peter Roskam, a well-to-do lawyer and conservative from Wheaton who ran unopposed in the GOP primary."
According to the Christian Science Monitor, "despite Duckworth's high profile -- and backing from party leaders such as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. John Kerry, and Illinois Sens. Barack Obama and Richard Durbin -- taking the seat from the GOP will be tough, most analysts agree."
California, 24th CD
Elton Gallegly 'Flip Flops' Says He'll Seek Reelection. Republican Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) "has reconsidered a last-minute decision to retire and will announce Tuesday that he intends to seek re-election this year after all, a move that comes at the urging of House leaders and members of California's GOP delegation."
The congressman's "withdrawal of his re-election bid has brought turmoil to his party back home... In a set of circumstances that has stunned local Republicans...Gallegly's name will remain on the ballot despite his surprise announcement Friday -- the deadline to file for re-election -- that unspecified health problems were forcing him to withdraw."
But wishy-washiness will cost Gallegly some endorsements. Roll Call reports, "It was unclear late Tuesday what level of support" Rep. Elton Gallegly "could expect from Republican leaders in his district as the fallout from his flip-flopping continued to reverberate. Ventura County Republican Party Chairwoman Leslie Cornejo, who on Monday endorsed Michael Tenenbaum when it appeared as though he was the only Republican on the ballot who was running, declined to withdraw that endorsement when informed that Gallegly was poised to get back in the race."
Texas 27th CD
And then there's Delay. That this guy is still a Republican Icon is telling of which side of the aisle the true ideological values lie...
In unapologetic Delay fashion, the indictmeister spent his victorious primary night partying with his lobbyist buddies. The former House majority leader Tom DeLay, "indicted on charges he funneled illegal corporate contributions into Texas legislative races, won his Republican primary... against three challengers." DeLay now "faces former congressman Nick Lampson, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary."
But alas, "The three Republicans who unsuccessfully challenged [DeLay]... are saying they will not endorse him in the general election or are waiting to make up their minds." The Hill adds "some political observers believe the lack of unity among Texas Republicans could hamper DeLay's effort to retain his seat and question DeLay's decision to lambaste his primary opponents soon after beating them earlier this month."
And much to Delay's chagrin, he will be facing two rather unorthodox challenges on his road back to Washington.
1) Prosecutors are trying to reinstate various charges against him. Some of the conspiracy and money laundering charges against DeLay were thrown out in December after a judge ruled the conspiracy law DeLay allegedly violated did not exist at the time. In fact the laws did exist.
2) A Truth-telling Delay Documentary will be released this spring. A "documentary about the Texas criminal investigation that led" to DeLay's indictment "on campaign fund-raising charges is being put to use by Mr. DeLay's political opponents in an attempt to unseat him." The film, "The Big Buy: How Tom DeLay Stole Congress," will be "distributed this spring by the Hollywood producer and liberal provocateur Robert Greenwald, whose last release was a scathing attack on Wal-Mart sponsored by a variety of labor unions and other groups critical of the retailing giant."
California 22nd CD
Ways And Means Chairman Won't Seek Reelection. House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas announced his plans to retire. The Hill reports there "has been speculation that Thomas could join the Bush Administration next year, possibly as treasury secretary." But more importantly, "some analysts believe that Thomas' decision to step down represents a troubling trend of experienced Republicans leaving." Thomas is "one of 17 Republican and eight Democratic House members who have decided not to run for re-election this fall. Five of the Republicans are losing their powerful committee posts because of term limits imposed by the caucus."
Tune in tomorrow for an overview of the Senate and the 2008 presidential election.
KEYWORDS: Election 2006, Congress
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