Voters in Washington State’s 4th Congressional district, which includes the Department of Energy’s Hanford Reservation, will today pick the successor to longtime Rep. Doc Hastings (R) in a race pitting a pair of Republicans: former Redskins tight end and Tea Party favorite Clint Didier and former state Agriculture Secretary Dan Newhouse. Newhouse has been endorsed by Hastings, and as the more moderate of the two Republicans in the run-off election, he is considered a slight favorite because he could garner a large swath of outstanding Democratic votes. Polling conducted in September showed Didier with a slight lead, but the poll was denounced by Newhouse’s campaign.
Another intriguing race involves incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. With Louisiana skewing more conservative, Landrieu is facing a likely runoff election in December if she’s unable to take home more than half the vote today against Republican Bill Cassidy and Tea Party candidate Rob Maness.
Incumbents elsewhere across the weapons complex are not expected to face major challenges. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) is not facing a significant challenge in Texas’ 13th District, which includes the Pantex Plant, while Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) is favored against Democrat Richard Stallings in Idaho’s 2nd District. In Oak Ridge, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) narrowly escaped a primary battle but is expected to beat Democratic challenger Mary Headrick in Tennessee’s 3rd District, while Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is expected to have an easy time against Republican Hugh Bussell.
In New Mexico, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) will face Republican Jefferson Byrd, who he defeated in 2012 in New Mexico’s 3rd District, while Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) is expected to hold off Roxanne “Rocky” Lara in New Mexico’s 2nd District, which includes the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Rep. Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D) is expected to beat out Republican Mike Frese in New Mexico’s 1st District, and Sen. Tom Udall (D) is also expected to hold his Senate seat. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) are also expected to retain their seats in Congress.
