Close House Races Should Be Reporting Soon
Polls in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and parts of New Hampshire closed at 7 p.m., commencing what is expected to be a long night of vote tallying across the country.
In Virginia, both parties will be closely watching results in a handful of competitive House races where Democrats could pick up seats. In the Virginia Beach-based 2nd district, Rep. Thelma Drake (R) is in a very competitive race against foreign service officer Glenn Nye (D). In the south-central part of the state, Rep. Virgil Goode (R) was narrowly leading attorney Tom Perriello (D) in the latest polls.
In the northern part of the state, the retirement of Rep. Tom Davis (R) retirement has left an opening for Democrats to pick up a seat: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly (D) and little-known businessman Keith Fimian (R) are running, with Connolly favored. Also in Northern Virginia, Rep. Frank Wolf (R) is expected to keep his seat in the race against former Georgetown University Dean Judy Feder (D).
The polls closed first in parts of Indiana, where in the 9th district, Rep. Baron Hill (D) is expected to win in his fourth straight race against former Rep. Mike Sodrel (R). In northeastern part of the state, Rep. Mark Souder (R) is expected to defeat attorney Mike Montagano (D) by a slim margin in a late-breaking race.
In central Georgia, Rep. Jim Marshalls (D) fate will be decided in his close race against retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Rick Goddard (R).
And just north of the Peach State, Rep. Henry Brown (R) has a well-funded challenge from businesswoman Linda Ketner (D) in South Carolinas 1st district a race that appears to be too close for comfort for the Republicans.
In Kentuckys 2nd district, a winner could soon be called in the race between state Sen. David Boswell (D) and state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R), who are running for retiring Rep. Ron Lewis (R) seat.
And in New Hampshire, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) will see if she wins her rematch against former Rep. Jeb Bradley (R), whom the freshman Democrat defeated in an upset victory in 2006. Polls close across the Granite state at 8 p.m.
There are no competitive House races in Vermont. Freshman Rep. Peter Welch (D) also has the Republican Party line.
Additionally, polls in the battleground states of of Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina are scheduled to close at 7:30 p.m.
