A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Wednesday, September 16, 1998

Nomination fights for open House seats were among yesterday's toughest primary races, especially in New York, Washington and Connecticut, where incumbents have given up seats to pursue higher office.

"This whole disgusting Starr report makes me more cynical about our larger cultural sickness. But I'm not cynical about voting. I'm not cynical about elections. And I'm not cynical about the elected officials. – Jean Mandel, a voter in Chelsea, N.Y. (The New York Times, Sept. 16)

As polls closed in Brooklyn and Queens, two New York Democrats were neck-and-neck in the race for the nomination to fill the seat left vacant by Senate nominee Charles E. Schumer (D). State Assemblywoman Melinda R. Katz had 30 percent of the vote and Sheepshead Bay city council member Anthony D. Weiner had 29 percent. The winner will face the the 9th District's lone Republican candidate, S. Leslie Jenkins.
• 2 Democrats Neck and Neck In Bid to Replace Schumer (The New York Times, registration required, Sept. 16)

John B. Larson revived his political career by winning the Democratic nomination in Connecticut's 1st Congressional District, currently represented by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Barbara B. Kennelly. Larson, a former state Senate leader who lost in the gubernatorial primary four years ago, defeated Secretary of State Miles S. Rapoport. He faces Republican newcomer Kevin J. O'Connor in November. No Republican has won the seat since President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1956 landslide reelection.
• Larson Makes Comeback, Wins 1st District Race (The Hartford Courant, Sept. 16)

Washington state Republican Pat Fiske lost the GOP primary for the 3rd District to state Sen. Don Benton. Four years ago, Fiske orchestrated the write-in victory of Rep. Linda Smith, the district's current representative and now the state's GOP nominee for Senate.
• 3rd District results (Secretary of State)

In Washington's 2nd District, Grethe Cammermeyer, one of the country's seven openly gay congressional candidates, won the Democratic nomination to challenge GOP Rep. Jack Metcalf.
• 2nd District results (Secretary of State)

Somerville, Mass., Mayor Michael Capuano won the Democratic primary for the 8th District seat held by retiring Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II, who abandoned his bid for governor last year. Capuano defeated nine candidates, including former Boston mayor and ambassador to the Vatican Raymond L. Flynn. Capuano is almost assured victory in November against Republican nominee Philip Hyde III for the seat formerly held by John F. Kennedy and Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr.
• In the 8th, Solid Base Boosts Somerville Mayor Above Pack (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)
• In the 8th District, Legwork and Organization Prove Priceless (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)
• Foes Question Tactics of Capuano Campaign (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)
• In Downpour, Flynn Fought Until the End (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)
• This Election, a Regular Joe (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)

A close contest is expected in the Massachusetts 6th District, where Democratic John F. Tierney faces his Republican predecessor, Peter G. Torkildsen, in November. Tierney defeated Torkildsen in 1996, and Torkildsen defeated Tierney in 1994.
• For Third Time, It Will Be Tierney vs. Torkildsen in the 6th District (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)

In newly redrawn House districts, North Carolina's two black representatives will face experienced Republican challengers in the 1st and 12th districts. Eva Clayton, the state's first black congresswoman and a vocal defender of President Clinton, will face 1st District Republican Ted Tyler, whom she has defeated in the last three elections. Scott Keadle defeated five other Republicans to face Watt in the 12th District.
• Complete Elections Coverage (WRAL-TV, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 16)

Dismal Turnout Pervades Primaries
Although some places, such as heavily Democratic Hibbing, Minn., had turnout of nearly 80 percent, voter interest in Tuesday's primary was fairly low. In Wake County, N.C., turnout was just three percent. Rhode Island had 12 percent of registered voters show up while Massachusetts – with its many tight races – had a statewide turnout of around 30 percent.
• Some Just Held Their Noses and Voted (The New York Times, Sept. 16)
• Scant Voter Turnout Marks Primary '98 (The Providence Journal, Sept. 16)
• Few Voters, Fewer Surprises (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 16)
• Passion (and Voters) in Short Supply (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 16)
• About One-Third of Voters Hit Polls (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)

Hog Farmers Show Political Clout in N.C.
Reaffirming their political clout in the nation's second most pork-producing state, North Carolina hog farmers succeeded in defeating one of their biggest critics in a tight state legislative runoff. Farm waste, the major beef of corporate hog farm opponents, is also an issue in Minnesota and Iowa statewide races.
• Target of Hog Industry Loses in GOP Primary (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 16)

J.C. Watts's Dad Wins Oklahoma Runoff; Dead Woman Loses
J.C. Watts Sr., the 75-year-old father of Republican Rep. J.C. Watts Jr., narrowly won his runoff for the Democratic nomination for Oklahoma labor commissioner.
• Senior Watts Faces Incumbent Reneau (The Oklahoman, Sept. 16)

In the Democratic Senate runoff, deceased candidate Jacquelyn Morrow Lewis Ledgerwood won about a quarter of the vote against winner Don E. Carroll.
• Democrats Select Carroll As Nominee for U.S. Senate Race (The Oklahoman, Sept. 16)

Among Statewide Races, Schumer Is the Only Surprise
Tuesday's statewide primaries went pretty much as polls predicted. The biggest surprise was Rep. Charles E. Schumer's commanding victory over former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro in the New York Democratic Senate primary. Although polls showed Schumer closing on Ferraro in the final weeks of the campaign, none predicted his 25 point margin of victory.
• Schumer Wins Nomination to Senate, Beating Ferraro and Green (The New York Times, Sept. 16)

New York Governor: Peter F. Vallone won the Democratic primary to face Republican Gov. George E. Pataki.
• Vallone Wins Nomination to Challenge Pataki (The New York Times, Sept. 16)

Minnesota Governor: Hubert H. Humphrey III won the battle of four famous sons in the Democratic primary. He will face Republican Mike Freeman and Reform Party candidate Jesse "The Body" Ventura for the seat being vacated by retiring Gov. Arne Carlson (R).
• On to November: Humphrey and Coleman (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, Sept. 16)
• With a Name and An Early Lead, It Was Humphrey's to Lose (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, Sept. 16)
• Coleman Faces Ex-Boss (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, Sept. 16)

Massachusetts Governor: Republican Gov. Paul Cellucci won the nomination to run for his first full term against Democratic Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.
• It'll Be Cellucci vs. Harshbarger (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)
• How Gubernatorial Hopefuls Match Up (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)
• Harshbarger Pushes Rival to Campaign on Issues (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)
• Cellucci Turns Focus to November, Harshbarger (The Boston Globe, Sept. 16)

Washington Senate: Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, first elected in the 1992 "Year of the Woman," will defend her seat against outspoken Republican Rep. Linda Smith.
• Smith Crushes Bayley (Eastside Journal, King County, Wash., Sept. 16)

Ryan Thornburg can be reached at ryan.thornburg@washingtonpost.com