Meet the Candidates: The Victors of the Indiana and North Carolina Congressional Primaries
While the presidential race is getting all the attention, voters in Indiana and North Carolina also selected their parties' nominees for their 22 House of Representatives seats and one Senate slot on Tuesday. Each seat's incumbent is running for reelection, but this is a turbulent election year, and the three high-school teachers, three attorneys, several small business owners and elected officials, and one TV weatherman challenging them could give them a run for their money. The Democrats are defending twelve House seats to the Republicans ten, plus Elizabeth Dole's seat in the Senate.
Each candidate and incumbent has a profile within Congresspedia's Wiki the Vote project, which you can find at the Indiana and North Carolina portals, or through the full listing of the primary victors below. We need your help to find out more about these candidates, so remember that these profiles are editable by anyone and jump right in. You can always contact one of the staff editors for help.
Indiana
- In the 1st district, incumbent Rep. Peter Visclosky (D) will square off against Republican Mark Leyva, a journeyman carpenter and former steelworker.
- In the 2nd district, incumbent Rep. Joe Donnelly (D), will face Luke Puckett, the founder of Monster Pontoon Corp. and the victor in yesterday's Republican primary.
- In the 3rd district, incumbent Rep. Mark Souder (R) will face Democratic candidate Michael Montagano, a higher education attorney.
- In the 4th district, incumbent Rep. Stephen Buyer (R) will be opposed by Democratic nominee Nels Ackerson, a former U.S. Senate staffer-turned lawyer.
- In the 5th district, incumbent Rep. Dan Burton (R) won his primary race, as did Mary Ruley (D), a consultant and small business owner.
- In the 6th district, incumbent Rep. Mike Pence (R) is running against the Democratic candidate, Barry Welsh, a high school government and economics teacher.
- In the 7th district, incumbent Rep. Andre Carson (D) -- who was elected to his seat in March -- held off several primary challengers, setting up a rematch against special election opponent Jon Elrod (R), an Indiana state representative.
- In the 8th district, incumbent Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) is being challenged by Greg Goode (R), a government affairs officer for Indiana State University.
- In the 9th district, incumbent Rep. Baron Hill (D) is defending the seat he won in 2006 when he defeated then-Congressman Mike Sodrel (R) - both were unopposed Tuesday in their primary races.
North Carolina
- For the Senate seat, incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) is defending her seat against North Carolina state Sen. Kay Hagan (D).
- In the 1st district, incumbent Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D) is going up against Dean Stephens (R), a computer consultant.
- In the 2nd district, incumbent Rep. Bob Etheridge (D), is defending his seat against Dan Mansell, a Republican Party staffer.
- In the 3rd district, incumbent Rep. Walter Jones (R) faces Democratic candidate Craig Weber, a television weatherman.
- In the 4th district, incumbent Rep. David Price (D), is challenged by B.J. Lawson, the Republican nominee and a medical software developer.
- In the 5th district, incumbent Rep. Virginia Foxx (R), will face Roy Carter, a Democratic high school science teacher who narrowly won his primary contest.
- In the 6th district, incumbent Rep. Howard Coble (R), squares off against Teresa Bratton (D), a physician.
- In the 7th district, incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre (D), is opposed by Republican challenger Will Breazeale, a pilot.
- In the 8th district, incumbent Rep. Robin Hayes (R), is facing Larry Kissell (D), a high school history teacher.
- In the 9th district, incumbent Rep. Sue Wilkins Myrick (R) will battle Democrat Harry Taylor, who owns a real estate brokerage.
- In the 10th district, incumbent Rep. Patrick McHenry (R) is facing attorney Daniel Johnson (D).
- In the 11th district, incumbent Rep. Heath Shuler (D) is defending against Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower (R).
- In the 12th district, incumbent Rep. Mel Watt (D), will face retired business owner Ty Cobb (R).
- In the 13th district, incumbent Rep. Brad Miller (D), is defending against Hugh Webster (R), a former senator in the North Carolina General Assembly.