CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
May 1, 2008 - 12:04 a.m.

CQ Politics' Top 10: Democrats May Follow the Money to Bigger House Majority
By Greg Giroux, CQ Staff

Six months before Election Day, Democrats are more likely than not to gain rather than lose seats in the House and augment the net gain of 30 seats they made in the 2006 election. One reason for the Democrats' optimism is that their party is fielding many well-funded challengers to Republican incumbents.

Democrats comprise nine of the 10 most cash-rich challengers to incumbents of the opposite party, according to a CQ Politics analysis of updated campaign finance reports that most candidates for Congress had to file by April 15. In most cases, the reports cover campaign receipts and expenditures through the end of this year's first quarter.

These cash-flush Democratic challengers include some who are running against Republicans who were nearly defeated in 2006, such as Connecticut Democrat Jim Himes, who is challenging veteran Republican Christopher Shays in the 4th District. And it includes some Democrats who are providing rare well-funded opposition to Republican incumbents - such as Missouri Democrat Kay Barnes, a former Kansas City mayor who is waging a vigorous campaign against Republican Rep. Sam Graves in the northwestern 6th District. Several of these Democrats are seeking rematches after losing in 2006.

The lone Republican on this "Top 10" list is Sandy Treadwell, a former New York Republican chairman and New York Secretary of State who is taking on freshman Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand in the state's 20th District.

House Challenger Candidates Who Have the Most Campaign Cash on Hand (as of March 31)

1. Jim Himes, Democrat, Connecticut's 4th ($1.1 million)
2. Kay Barnes, Democrat, Missouri's 6th ($954,000)
3. Sandy Treadwell, Republican, New York's 20th ($929,000)
4. Darcy Burner, Democrat, Washington's 8th ($922,000)
5. Mark Schauer, Democrat, Michigan's 7th ($751,000)
6. Dan Seals, Democrat, Illinois' 10th ($745,000)
7. Judy Feder, Democrat, Virginia's 10th ($700,000)
8. Michael Skelly, Democrat, Texas' 7th ($667,000)
9. Gary Peters, Democrat, Michigan's 9th ($645,000)
10. Robert Lord, Democrat, Arizona's 3rd ($632,000)