State By State

Idaho

Businessman Walt Minnick (D) launched his campaign for Rep. Bill Sali’s (R) seat on Wednesday, adding a third major candidate to the Democratic primary.

Minnick, who fell to Sen. Larry Craig (R) by 17 points in a 1996 Senate race, is a Vietnam veteran who once worked in the Nixon White House.

“On healthcare, on the economy, on Iraq, [Sali and Washington politicians] just aren’t getting things done for our state,” Minnick said. “Idaho has only two congressmen. It takes a delegation that can work together to make a difference for Idaho.”

Sali’s 2006 opponent, Larry Grant, and appraiser Rand Lewis are already running for the Democratic nomination.

Sali defeated Grant 50-45 for the seat of now-Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter (R).

— Aaron Blake

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Louisiana

The first contests in the special election to replace Rep. Bobby Jindal (R) will be held March 8 and conclude on either April 5 or May 3.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) set the dates Tuesday in a proclamation. Jindal will replace her as governor in January after winning October’s election.

Under a newly instituted system for congressional races, the major parties will hold separate party primaries in March. Runoffs will be required in April if no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, and the election would follow in May. If no runoffs are required, the election would be held in place of the runoffs in April.

Qualifying will take place from Jan. 29-31.

Jindal sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) last week informing her that he will resign, effective Jan. 14.

The district is heavily conservative, and declared and potential GOP candidates thus far include Slidell Mayor Ben Morris, state Rep. Tim Burns and former Gov. David Treen, who has also served in the House.
Democrat Gilda Reed is also running.

— A.B.

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Mississippi

Sen. Thad Cochran (R) said Wednesday that he will seek a sixth term in the Senate in 2008, turning aside rumors of his impending retirement.

Cochran, who will turn 70 next month, has not raised a lot of money this cycle but had previously said he planned to run for reelection.
“

While I delayed making this decision until after our state and local government elections were over, there is no reason to delay any longer,” Cochran said in a statement. “I have enjoyed serving in the Senate, and I am highly honored to have had the support and encouragement to continue this service from friends throughout the state.”

The decision nixes almost any hope Democrats had of taking the seat and saves the National Republican Senatorial Committee another open-seat headache.

First elected in 1978 after six years in the House, Cochran has taken at least 70 percent of the vote each of his last three reelection bids.

— A.B.

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Minnesota

A Republican-turned-Democratic mayor has joined the race to succeed retiring Rep. Jim Ramstad (R), creating what could be a tightly contested Democratic primary in the swing district.

Edina Mayor Jim Hovland, who announced he was switching parties in September, has been mayor for three years and has served on Edina’s city council for 11 years.

Hovland describes himself as a “Rockefeller Republican” who has voted for Democrats for years. He made the switch official after Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) asked if he’d be interested in running for Ramstad’s seat as a Democrat, Hovland said.

Hovland believes he can win the election by following Ramstad’s lead and appealing broadly to Democrats, Republicans and political independents.

He joins state Sen. Terri Bonoff and attorney Ashwin Madia, a young Iraq veteran and political unknown, in the Democratic race. State Rep. Erik Paulsen is running for the GOP nomination.

The district voted narrowly for President Bush in the 2004 presidential race and is a prime Democratic target with Ramstad retiring.

— Ian Swanson

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Nebraska

Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey (D) on Tuesday declined to run for Senate in 2008, dealing a blow to Democrats’ efforts to make the open-seat race competitive.

Initially turned down by former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D), the Democrats will now turn to former congressional candidate Scott Kleeb (D), who appears to be their last hope to field a major candidate.

Kleeb ran an inspired open-seat campaign in the state’s 3rd district but still lost by 10 points to now-Rep. Adrian Smith (R).

Fahey told the Omaha World-Herald: “All the things I have on my plate, at this time, there are large items that need to be completed. And I didn’t think it would be fair to the people who elected me if I left in midstream to go campaign.”

— A.B.

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South Dakota

Businessman Chris Lien (R) announced his candidacy for the seat of Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D) on Wednesday.

Lien is the president of a sand and gravel company and director of the state Chamber of Commerce.

His father, Charles, ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 1972.

“I believe that my real-world experience in business, a background in law and extensive activities in government affairs on the state and national level will help me to be an effective advocate for South Dakota,” Lien said.

The Democratic incumbent won her 2006 race with 69 percent of the vote and is very popular in the state, despite its conservative tilt. Still just 36 years old, she was first elected in 2004 in a special election to replace former Rep. Bill Janklow (R).

— A.B.

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New Jersey

Dr. Dennis Shulman (D), also known as the “Blind Rabbi,” officially declared his candidacy for the seat of Rep. Scott Garrett (R) on Wednesday.

Shulman, a clinical psychologist and ordained rabbi, would be the first rabbi in Congress and the first blind member since 1941, according to the House historian’s office.

He will attempt to do what former Gov. Jim McGreevey staffer Paul Aronsohn (D) couldn’t last cycle and make a competitive race against Garrett. Garrett defeated Aronsohn by 11 points in the GOP-leaning district.

“With my experience serving individuals and my congregants, I can assure New Jersey families that I will be a hard-working, accountable and available member of Congress, always fighting to do what is in the best interest of New Jersey,” Shulman said.

— A.B.