Roll Call - It happens every cycle: an entrenched, unassuming House incumbent loses re-election to a primary rival.
Who will be this cycle’s first victim? At least five vulnerable House incumbents are already engaged in electoral battles with a party challenger. Three Republicans and two Democratic upstarts have organized early efforts to boot these House members from office.
To be sure, these challenges are not indicative of a widespread anti-incumbency fervor in 2014.
Polling shows Congress with low marks from voters, but there are a relatively small number of competitive races this cycle. That’s mostly thanks to the decennial redraw of congressional districts ahead of the 2012 cycle.
CQ Roll Call selected these five primaries — in no particular order — to watch based mostly on circumstances specific to each incumbent. These members share one thing in common: If they are not careful, they may end up on Roll Call’s Casualty List.
Michigan’s 11th
Incumbent: Republican Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (1st term)
Primary: Aug. 5, 2014
Primary challenger: attorney David Trott
Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call race rating: Republican Favored
A former reindeer rancher, Santa Claus impersonator and veteran, Bentivolio made headlines recently for public comments about impeaching the president. Like his background, his path to Congress was anything but typical: When Rep. Thaddeus McCotter’s re-election signature petitions proved faulty in 2012, Bentivolio remained the only Republican on the ballot. He won the seat and has a target on his back ever since. More PT'G
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