Incumbents facing strong challenges for Congress

Several incumbents face strong challenges to keep their seats in November.

The Associated Press

May 3, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida may not have any statewide elected offices on the ballot this year, but it will have plenty of congressional races.

The races were set Friday after qualifying for the ballot closed at noon. The only incumbent among Florida's 25 Congress members not seeking re-election is Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic, who decided not to run again. Many others are facing challenges as Republicans and Democrats continue to battle over control of the U.S. House.

Among the notable races: Democrat Christine Jennings will seek a rematch with Rep. Vern Buchanan for the Sarasota-area seat he won by 369 votes two years ago, and Democratic Rep. Tim Mahoney will defend the South Florida seat he won after Republican Rep. Mark Foley resigned in shame.

Also, Republican Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, will face a strong challenge for the seat he carved out for himself six years ago, and three South Florida Republicans will have to defend seats in races that could test whether attitudes are shifting among Cuban-Americans.

Democrats are hoping to provide strong competition for Reps. Ric Keller, R-Orlando, and Gus Bilirakis, R- Palm Harbor, while Republicans hope they can make freshman Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, work to keep his job.

Democrats are being ambitious this year, with at least seven Republicans on their target list, as well as Weldon's seat.

Democrats have picked Feeney as their top target. They are reminding voters that he took a golf trip to Scotland with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. They are pinning there hopes on Suzanne Kosmas, who owns a real-estate business and served in the state House while Feeney was speaker. Kosmas is considered Feeney's strongest challenger since his 2002 election.

Feeney thinks he has a huge advantage -- his focus on the space program and what it means for the district that stretches from the east side of Orlando to the Space Coast.