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Update in progress May, 2008
Welcome to Campaign 2008. The current composition of the Senate, going into the 2008 election, consists of 49 Republicans, 49 Democrats, and two independents (Bernie Sanders, VT, and Joe Lieberman, CT, who both caucus with Democrats). Of the 35 seats up for election in 2008, 23 are held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats.
There are no open Democratic seats. (An open seat is one in which no incumbent is running.). Five Republican-held seats, CO, VA, NE, ID,and NM, are open seats. Ten of the 12 Democratic seats are considered safe, one is in the “likely” column (Tim Johnson SD), and the most vulnerable Democrat is Mary Landrieu of LA. Thirteen of the incumbent GOP Senators are thought to be “safe.” Five GOP-held seats are in play: ME, AK, MN, OR, and NH. Three of the GOP open seats, CO VA and NM, are potential Democratic takeovers, and the other two, ID and NE are considered safe for the GOP. Several retirements are still possible.
JAC's priorities are as follows: to shore up incumbent friends in the Senate, listed below, then to consider open seats, then challengers. As the election draws nearer we will continue to update this page in accordance with those priorities. Also listed below are House races featuring vulnerable JAC-supported freshmen and longer serving incumbents who need our support. To contribute to a candidate listed below, please click on the link next to the name of that candidate. For a more detailed explanation of HOW to contribute, WHY contributions through JACPAC are beneficial, and the criteria for JACPAC support, please click on "Contribute to a Candidate" in the menu at the left.
Senate
Open Seats:
Toss-up
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* Tom Udall (D-NM) Donate:
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Soon after GOP Sen. Pete Domenici announced his retirement, all three of New Mexico’s members of Congress threw their hats in the ring for the open seat - GOP Reps. Heather Wilson (NM-01) and Steve Pearce (NM-02), and Dem. Rep. Tom Udall (NM-03). Retired oil executive Spiro Vassilopoulos is also seeking the GOP nomination, and Udall will face Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez in the Democratic primary. JAC has supported Tom Udall during his five terms in the House. This race could be a squeaker right to the end. Udall is the son of Stewart Udall, who was Secretary of the Interior from 1961 to 1969, nephew of Congressman Morris Udall, and cousin of Colorado Congressman Mark Udall and Oregon Senator Gordon Smith. He serves on the Appropriations, Resources and Small Business Committees.
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* Mark Udall (D-CO) Donate:
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Rep. Mark Udall (D) faces former Rep. Bob Schaffer (R) for the seat of Wayne Allard (R), retiring. This is an ideological match-up. Udall is the a liberal from Boulder, Schaffer a conservative from Ft. Collins. it appears that Udall will not have a primary challenge. JAC has supported Udall during his five terms in the House, where his voting record on JAC’s issues has been excellent. Shaffer had a 100 rating from the American Conservative Union. Udall has no primary opposition and Shaffer has an insignificant primary opponent. Mark Udall is a cousin of Congressman Tom Udall of New Mexico and of Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon, and nephew of former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall.
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Incumbents:
Endangered
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* Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Donate:
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Now serving her second term, Sen. Mary Landrieu waged two tough contests and is currently waging her third. She is a top GOP target. St. Treas. and ‘04 Sen. candidate John Kennedy switched parties during the summer and announced that he will challenge Landrieu. Although she has the incumbent’s advantage, the demographics of Louisiana have changed. Many of the voters who were solidly in Landrieu’s camp were driven out of Louisiana as a result of hurricane Katrina. And, the recent Governor’s race brought out an increased number of Republican voters and put GOP Rep. Bobby Jindal in the Governor’s mansion. JAC has given her early support. She will need continued support if she is to overcome the challenge from Kennedy. Landrieu serves on the Approprations, Energy and Natural Resources. and Small Business Committees.
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Watch list
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* Susan Collins (R-ME) Donate:
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Incumbent GOP Senator Susan Collins, who has an excellent record on legislation of concern to JAC, is a top target of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). The 2006 election showed that strong Democratic candidates in the northeastern part of the country were able to defeat moderate Republicans. Collins’ challenger is Dem. Rep. Tom Allen whose record on JAC’s issues is also excellent. JAC has never supported Allen because he has always won by comfortable margins and never requested the PAC's support. Collins is currently Ranking Member on the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. She serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Special Committee on Aging. This race is on our watch list but it could easily move into the “toss-up” category.
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* Tim Johnson (D-SD) Donate:
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Having undergone a much publicized brain surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage in December 2006, Democratic Senator Johnson is recovering and is ready to wage what promises to be a difficult campaign. Johnson, whom JAC has supported in the House and the Senate, returned to the Senate in September, following a long recovery and rehabilitation, which is still continuing. There are three declared Republicans - st. Rep. Joel Dykstra, ‘02 House candidate Burt Tollefson and businessman Sam Kephart. Republicans had hoped to recruit Gov. Mike Rounds. Without Rounds in the race, Johnson is the easy frontrunner. Johnson serves on the following committees: Appropriations, Banking, Budget, Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Indian Affairs, Select Committee on Ethics.
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Safe
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* Max Baucus (D-MT) Donate:
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Senator Max Baucus was elected in 1978 and is now serving his fifth term. Senator Baucus is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, which he last chaired from 2001 to 2003. Baucus is also a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the Senate Agriculture Committee, and the Joint Committee on Taxation. Staunchly pro-Israel and pro-choice, Baucus has received JAC support throughout his career. Montana has a popular Democratic Governor, Brian Schweitzer, and elected a Democratic Senator, Jon Tester, in 2006. St. Rep. Michael Lange and engineer Kirk Bushman have declared their intentions to challenge Baucus. Neither is a serious threat.
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* Joseph Biden (D-DE) Donate:
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Senator Joe Biden is on the path to an easy re-election. Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he is a popular Senator who won re-election in 2002 with 58% of the vote. Biden serves on the Judiciary Committee. He is now serving his sixth term, having been elected in 1973 when he was 30 years old.
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* Dick Durbin (D-IL) Donate:
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Sen. Dick Durbin is very popular and considered safe for reelection. Durbin is the majority whip, the 2nd leadership position in the Senate, and is often the voice for articulating difficult issues. His opponent, physician Steve Sauerberg,does not pose a threat to Durbin. JAC has supported Sen. Durbin since his first election to the House in 1984.
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* Tom Harkin (D-IA) Donate:
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Senator Tom Harkin will probably face Republican businessman Steve Rathje who is not much competition for the four-term incumbent. Harkin is a formidable force in Iowa politics, beating five members of Congress in his career and carrying a large base of supporters in the state. JAC has been a staunch supporter during all four Senate campaigns. Harkin is perhaps best known as an advocate for people with disabilities. In 1990, he wrote and was the chief sponsor of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation's first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities. He is Chairman of the Agricultural Committee.
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* Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) Donate:
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Frank Lautenberg is running for his fifth term in a safe, blue state. Republicans sunk millions into trying to capture a Senate seat in New Jersey in 2006 and still lost by 9 points. Lautenberg is swiftly preparing to fend off any potential GOP challenger and, so far, no serious threat has emerged. However, on the Democratic side, he is being challenged by Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ-1). An intra-party primary challenge to a sitting senator is rare, but Andrews hopes to ride the wave of change that is prevalent in politics this year and to make an issue of Lautenberg
's age and longevity in politics. Lautenberg has been active in Jewish community affairs all his adult life. In the Senate, he is a fighter not only for Israel but for the social safety net. He has taken the lead on gun control, anti-smoking on airplanes, the environment and a host of other issues. He retired from the Senate in 2000, only to return two years later to win New Jersey's other Senate seat. He serves on the following committees: Appropriations; Budget; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Environment and Public Works.
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* Carl Levin (D-MI) Donate:
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The senior Jewish member of the Senate is Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, now serving his fifth term. Levin chairs the important Armed Services committee and has been a friend of JACPAC’s for as long as the PAC has been in existence. There are no declared opponents as of this date, and Levin is considered “safe.” Michigan’s filing deadline is not until May 13, 2008. In naming Carl Levin one of the ten best senators, Time Magazine wrote in April 2006 that he has “gained respect from both parties for his attention to detail and deep knowledge of policy,” and that “his carefully researched, thoughtful remarks carry great weight with his colleagues.”
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* Jack Reed (D-RI) Donate:
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A leader on defense, education, and health care issues, Democratic Senator Jack Reed is a senior member of the Armed Services Committee and a former Army Ranger. In 2006, Time magazine noted: "Reed is a serious, intellectually honest veteran and an expert on defense issues in the Senate."Sen. Reed is considered safe for re-election, with no Republicans willing to take on the popular two-term senator. He is a perfect vote on JAC’s issues.
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* Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) Donate:
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Four-term Senator Jay Rockefeller does not yet have an opponent. That is not surprising considering Republicans have never fielded a strong challenger to Rockefeller, a very popular senator. Democrats expect another victory in West Virginia. He is chairman of the Select Intelligence Committee.
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House
Incumbents:
Toss-up
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* Mark Kirk (R-IL-10) Donate:
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Mark Kirk represents the 10th Congressional District in which the JAC office is located.
Now in his fourth term, Congressman Kirk is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and serves on two of its subcommittees: State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, and Financial Services. Congressman Kirk is co-chairman of the Tuesday Group, the caucus of moderate Republican Members of Congress. Kirk won with 53% of the vote in '06, having faced a strong challenge from Dan Seals, who is running again this time. Seals, who has good name ID in the district, faces a primary challenge from former Clinton Administration Jewish liaison Jay Footlik. This race is likely to be a “toss-up” until the end.
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* Nick Lampson (D-TX-22) Donate:
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Nick Lampson represented Texas's 9th congressional district from 1997 to 2005. After a controversial redistricting engineered by then-majority leader Tom Delay, Lampson was defeated in his bid for Texas's 2nd district congressional seat in 2004. After a one-term hiatus, he returned to Congress from the 22nd district, which was formerly represented by DeLay until he resigned in 2006. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, who served out the remainder of DeLay's unexpired term, approximately 51 days, was Lampson’s opponent, whom he defeated in the general. This will be a hotly contested seat in 2008. As many as 10 Republican names have been mentioned as possible challengers, and seven have already declared. This could be a very tough race for Lampson.
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* Chris Shays (R-CT-4) Donate:
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Ten-term Rep. Chris Shays, who won with only 51% in 2006, was the only Northeastern Republican to survive the Democratic onslaught. He has been considered an expert on terrorism long before the 9/11 attacks and continues to be one to this day. He sits on many committees and subcommittees in the House, most notably the Oversight on Government Reform, Financial Services and Homeland Security committees. Shays will be a top Democratic target in the upcoming race.
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* Zack Space (D-OH-18) Donate:
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Other than spending three years in law school at Ohio State University, Zack Space lived his entire life in Ohio's 18th Congressional District. Believing that the federal government was failing to meet the basic needs of its citizens and communities, in 2005, he decided to run for Congress. His campaign highlighted the importance of honest, transparent government in order to return Americans' sense of trust in government and in their elected officials. Prior to the 2006 election, this seat was held by GOP Representative Bob Ney, and Republicans had to come up with a new candidate during the last four weeks of the '06 campaign. While Space’s incumbency helps him, a top-tier GOP candidate could give him real trouble. He serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
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Endangered
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* Nancy Boyda (D-KS-2) Donate:
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Freshman Rep. Nancy Boyda, a Marine Corps veteran and a former Marshal county attorney, was the surprise winner in 2006 with 51%. She defeated 5-term GOP incumbent Jim Ryun, who is seeking a re-match in 2008. Boyda serves on the Armed Services and Agriculture committees. This will be a tough contest.
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* Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ-8) Donate:
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Freshman Democrat Gabrielle Giffords is a Jewish woman who won this open seat with 54% of the vote in '06. The district was held by pro-choice, Republican Jim Kolbe for 11 terms. Giffords divides her time in the House working on the Armed Services, Science and Technology and Foreign Affairs committees. Her opponent in 2006 was a conservative, anti-choice, anti-gay state Representative. Prior to this, Giffords was the youngest women ever elected to the Arizona state Senate. The upcoming race could be difficult; to show strength Giffords will need support whether or not she has a strong challenger.
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* John Yarmuth (D-KY-3) Donate:
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Democrat John Yarmuth was another surprise winner in 2006. He challenged 5-term GOP Rep. Anne Northup and won the contest with 51%. Yarmuth, who is Jewish, is passionate about good government, as well as issues involving working families and students. He sought and received appointments to the Committee on Education and Labor as well as the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Yarmuth serves as an at-large Democratic whip. Though best known for his work in the media and higher education, Yarmuth previously worked on Capitol Hill as Legislative Aide for Kentucky Senator Marlow Cook from 1971 to 1974. There is one declared opponent, former Assistant US Attorney Erwin Roberts; several other names have been mentioned.
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Likely Dem
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* John Barrow (D-GA-12) Donate:
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Representative John Barrow was first elected in 2004, having defeated one-term GOP incumbent Max Burns. At the same time Barrow was elected, the Republicans won control of both houses of the Georgia state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. One of their first acts was an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting. Barrow was one of the targets; his home in Athens was drawn into the heavily Republican 9th District of six-term incumbent Charlie Norwood. Rather than face certain defeat, Barrow moved to Savannah in the newly redrawn 12th, faced Burns in the general election and won by only 864 votes. Barrow currently sits on the Energy and Commerce and Agriculture committees. Although his squeaker win in 2006 makes him a target, the upcoming race should be easier for Barrow than his last two.
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* Melissa Bean (D-IL-8) Donate:
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Democrat Melissa Bean was first elected in 2004 by defeating Republican Phil Crane who was the longest serving Republican in the House at that time. In 2006 she won her second term with 51%. The 8th district favors Republicans, which could make all of Bean's races difficult and make her a constant target of the GOP. However, Bean is politically attuned to her district, which is pro-business, fiscally conservative and not ideologically driven. Bean is a strong campaigner and fundraiser, characteristics that fit well with her committee assignments: Financial Services and Small Business. Her GOP challenger is businessman Steve Greenberg, who is capable of self-financing.
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* Niki Tsongas (D-MA-05) Donate:
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By the time Niki Tsongas was 14, her family had been stationed at air bases all across the US and Europe. After college and law school, she started Lowell, Massachusetts’ first all-female law practice. Tsongas was elected to her seat in a special election to replace Democratic Representative Marty Meehan, who left to become the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. Tsongas will need to run again in November of 2008 and her prospects for re-election look good.
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Watch list
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* Chet Edwards (D-TX-17) Donate:
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First elected to Congress in 1990, Chet Edwards is one of the few House members who serves on both the House Budget and the Appropriations Committees. The nine-term Democrat sits in a heavily Republican district (he is President Bush's congressman) that was redrawn in 2003 to bring about his defeat. He has drawn a weak opponent, showing that Republicans have given up on trying to oust him from office. He co-chairs the House Army Caucus and the US Congressional Caucus. In 2005 Congressman Edwards received the Inspirational Leadership Award from the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and one year later he was given the Award of Merit, the highest award given by the Military Coalition, which represents 36 military and veteran groups. Edwards is known for his strong stance on the issue of church-state separation. Representative Edwards won with 58% of the vote in 2006.
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* Jim Matheson (D-UT-2) Donate:
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Jim Matheson has served four terms, winning the last election with 59% of the vote. Matheson is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, the House Science and Technology Committee, and has served as a Co-Chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition. He is a sixth-generation Utahan who worked in the energy industry for 13 years for several local companies and owned his own firm before his election to Congress.
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* Patrick Murphy (D-PA-08) Donate:
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Patrick Murphy served in two military deployments after 9/11 – the first to Bosnia in 2002 and the second to Baghdad in 2003-2004 as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne division, where he earned the Bronze Star for his service. In 2006 he was elected to Congress and serves on the House Armed Service Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and was invited to join the Blue Dog Coalition. Before his election to Congress, he served as a West Point professor and a criminal prosecutor. He won with 50% of the vote in 2006, thoroughly surprising the GOP establishment.
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* Joseph Sestak (D-PA-07) Donate:
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Democrat Joseph Sestak won with 56% of the vote in 2006, defeating GOP Rep.Curt Weldon, a 20-year veteran of the House. Before being elected, Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years, having attained the rank of Vice Admiral, making him the highest ranking former military officer ever to have served in the Congress. He exercised command of numerous combat operations, namely a few in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also served as the Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council in the Clinton administration. After 9/11, he was selected to serve as the first Director of "Deep Blue," the Navy's anti-terrorism unit where he worked to establish new strategies for the Navy to fight the Global War on Terror. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (second in his class), Sestak also holds a MPA and a PhD in Political Economy and Government, from Harvard. Sestak is vice-chairman of the Small Business Committee and a member of the Education and Labor and Armed Services committees. Three Republican names have been floated as possible challengers, but no one has filed as yet.
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