Here are the top House races to watch ahead of Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday is right around the corner and there are several House races to keep an eye out for.
More than a dozen states are holding presidential nominating contests on Tuesday as well, a critical milestone in the 2024 race, where President Biden and former President Trump look to continue their winning streaks — and take a step closer to a potential rematch in November.
Super Tuesday has more votes and delegates at stake than any other day of primary season. Most polls will close March 5 around 7 or 8 p.m. local time.
With early voting already underway in some states, here are some top House races to watch.
Alabama
Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) is seen following the fifth ballot for Speaker on the second day of the 118th session of Congress on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. (Greg Nash/The Hill)
Alabama adopted a new congressional map last year after the Supreme Court refused to reinstate the Republican-drawn congressional map, which likely would have diluted the power of Black voters.
A panel of federal judges approved the new map in October, maintaining the state’s one existing majority-Black district and nearly adding another, which boosts Democrats’ changes of flipping a seat.
Reps. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) and Barry Moore (R-Ala.) are going head-to-head in the state’s 1st Congressional District next Tuesday, after the map was redrawn.
Carl represents Alabama’s 1st District and Moore currently represents the old 2nd District, which became the almost Black-majority district.
Part of Moore’s district, including his home county, has moved into the 1st District, Rollcall reported.
Democrat Tom Holmes, a retired state government worker, is running for the opposing nomination.
In the state’s newly redrawn 2nd District, more than 10 candidates have thrown their names in to capitalize on Moore’s former seat. With so many candidates, it’s unlikely that one person will become the nominee, which means an April 16 runoff is likely.
Arkansas
Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) arrives for a House Republican Conference meeting to select the next candidate for Speaker of the House on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.
Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) is running for reelection in Arkansas’ 3rd District — and is looking to earn his eighth term in office, but faces a challenge from state Sen. Clint Penzo.
Penzo posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he entered the race against Womack after the incumbent voted against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) during his bid for speakership.
“Congressman Womack’s third vote against @Jim_Jordan for speaker was the catalyst that got me in the race,” the state senator wrote.
Womack and 24 other Republicans blocked Jordan’s third attempt from securing the speaker gavel in October after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted in a historical vote.
California
California flag waves in sunshine (Getty Images)
Unlike most states, California doesn’t use party primaries to decide who gets to run in the general election.
Instead, the Golden State uses a “top-two” primary, where all candidates running for the same office are listed together on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. The two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election.
While California has a highly anticipated Senate race, there are several House primaries worth keeping an eye out for.
The state’s 30th district will be wide open after Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced his run for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) seat. A slew of Democrats have entered the race to replace Schiff.
Another notable House election is the race to replace Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) who is also running for Feinstein’s seat. Despite its slight Democratic lean, Porter’s 47th District has been eyed by GOP candidates.
Scott Baugh, a former minority leader in the state Assembly, lost to Porter by three points in 2022. Among other candidates, Baugh is running this year to earn the Orange County seat.
As one of the largest states in the U.S., California also has key races in the 16th, 20th, 22nd, 32nd, 40th, 45th and 49th congressional districts. 1
North Carolina
Rep. Kathy Manning, D-N.C., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
North Carolina also has a several key House races to watch after Republicans in the state completely redrew its congressional map last year in a move that could flip multiple House seats in the GOP’s favor.
The state’s House delegation, currently evenly split between seven Democrats and seven Republicans, could change as the new lines make at least 10 of the 14 districts lean Republican.
The Tar Heel State’s 1st Congressional District, a rural district that has a large Black population, may be the only competitive race.
First District incumbent Rep. Donald David (D-N.C.) is running against Libertarian Tom Bailey. Republican candidates Laurie Buckhout and Sandy Smith — who was endorsed by Trump in a previous race — will face off.
Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), who represents the 6th District, announced in December she won’t seek reelection under the new “egregiously gerrymandered” congressional maps. She joins first-term Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-N.C.), who represents the 14th District, who won’t run again due to the maps.
Six Republicans will battle for Manning’s former seat.
Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), who is running for state attorney general, leaves behind another crowded GOP primary in the state’s 8th District. Six GOP candidates are running.
Texas
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) is seen before an enrollment ceremony for the Inflation Reduction Act on Friday, August 12, 2022.
The Lone Star State has a handful of key House races.
In the state’s 7th Congressional District, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D) faces a primary challenger, Pervez Agwan.
Rep. Kay Granger (R), 81, announced she would be retiring at the end of the year. Five GOP candidates are competing for the solidly Republican 12th District.
Rep. Michael Burgess (R) also announced he would be retiring, leaving the 26th District open. Brandon Bill and Southlake Mayor John Huffman are among the Republican candidates looking to advance to the general election.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D) faces a challenge from former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards. Lee has represented the state’s 18th District since the mid-90s and may have skated to another term, if she hadn’t attempted a run for Houston’s mayor.
The state’s 32nd District has a crowded Democratic field after Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) makes an attempt to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
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