Congresspedia Wiki-the-Vote Congressional Elections Update

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By Avelino Maestas, Congresspedia Assistant Managing Editor

With all the focus on the 2008 presidential elections (and the superdelegates) it’s easy to forget that we're in the middle of Congressional elections, too. In recent weeks, we’ve also seen a number of announcement regarding incumbents retiring, resigning, or looking to move up the political ladder. Fortunately, Congresspedia’s Wiki the Vote project can help keep track of all the comings and goings.

In Mississippi, the Republicans recently held two primary runoff elections for open seats. Southaven Mayor Greg Davis defeated Glenn L. McCullough Jr. by a two-percent margin in the 1st congressional district, which Sen. Roger Wicker (R) left to take over Trent Lott's seat when he resigned from the Senate last year. Davis will now face off against Democratic candidate Travis Childers for the seat in the November general election, but not before they and four other candidates vie to fill it for the rest of Wicker's term in a special election later this month. If none of the candidates receive a majority, the top two candidates will proceed to a runoff election on May 13.

Mississippi's 3rd congressional district was also an open seat, due to the planned retirement of Rep. Charles W. “Chip” Pickering (R). In that district, Gregg Harper came away with 57-percent of the vote to defeat former state Sen. Charlie Ross.

In Idaho, Sen. Larry Craig (R) is living up to his promise and has not filed for reelection. Instead, 13 other candidates are campaigning to replace them. You can find more over at the Idaho portal.

Three members of Congress recently announced they would resign or retire. They include Rep. Al Wynn (D-Md.), who will resign his seat in June, and Reps. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.) and Bud Cramer (R-Ala.), who will not seek reelection this year.

Finally, Congress will welcomed two new members following special elections in Illinois and Indiana. Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ill.) will take over the seat of his late grandmother, Julia Carson, who passed away last year. Meanwhile, in Illinois Bill Foster (D) was elected to fill the seat of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who resigned in 2007. Both Carson and Foster will face challengers in the November general election.

For more information on all the Congressional races taking place throughout the country, visit the Congresspedia Wiki the Vote project.