The old adage says all politics are local. But challengers this year are convinced that national dissatisfaction with Iraq, immigration and political corruption gives them an unusual chance to topple sitting governors, senators and House members.
Primaries today for governor in Alabama and California, a Senate seat in Montana and a few House contests, among others, will put their faith to the test.
The most-watched congressional contest is the only one that will actually put someone in office – a special election in Southern California to replace jailed former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham. Democrats hope to win in what has long been a conservative GOP stronghold, and the race is seen as a bellwether for fall midterm elections.
Eight states have primaries, with polls also open in Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota and Iowa, where there is an open governor’s seat.
In Montana, revelations of three-term Republican Sen. Conrad Burns’ ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff have made him one of the most vulnerable congressmen, inspiring a vigorous Democratic contest for the right to face him in November.
The issues in Alabama include tax policy, social conservatism and immigration, as GOP Gov. Bob Riley’s failed proposal to raise taxes has spurred both a Republican primary and a heated contest among Democrats. Among the Democrats hoping to get Riley’s job is former Gov. Don Siegelman, who is likely to be in federal court today on racketeering and bribery charges.
In California, early polls that showed a drop in GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s popularity raised Democratic hopes. But he has benefited from a nasty Democratic race between Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly. Schwarzenegger faced no major primary foes.
“It seems clearly to be a time when people are not real happy and not thrilled with incumbents almost anywhere,” said Norm Ornstein, an analyst at the American Enterprise Institute.
Already this year, signs of anti-incumbent sentiment have emerged in Oregon, where Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski won a hard-fought primary with only 54 percent support, and in Pennsylvania, where Republican U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood faced a strong challenge from a poorly funded, little-known opponent and voters threw out more than a dozen state lawmakers over a legislative pay raise.
