Republican primary for Congress brewing in Louisville
Chris Thieneman, a developer and former University of Louisville football player, is expected to file his paperwork to run as a Republican candidate for Louisville's 3rd Congressional District on Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, former Republican U.S. Rep. Anne Northup continues to eye trying to get her seat back after losing the 2006 race to Democrat John Yarmuth.
"There's a very strong likelihood that Anne will run," said Ted Jackson, Northup's long-time political adviser. "Thieneman running or not running is completely irrelevant to Anne's decision to run."
Thieneman, who led the push against an increased library tax in Louisville, is expected to file his papers with the state Board of Elections at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Jackson said it would be a tough to defeat Northup in a GOP primary.
"It's hard for me to understand how someone could challenge Anne in that district after she served in Congress for 10 years and running for governor and beating the incumbent in Jefferson County by 16,000 votes," he said.
Republican U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis of Northern Kentucky said at the Capitol Thursday before filing his paperwork to seek a third two-year term in Congress that Northup would be a force in both the primary and general election.
"It turns Kentucky's 3rd (District) into a targeted race overnight if she enters," he said, noting that rematches between two candidates who have held the same seat are always contentious.
Davis would know. In 2006, his Democratic predecessor, former U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, filed to challenge him and get his old seat back. The race instantly shot to the top of national political observers' watch lists. Davis won.
He said he is now a member of the informal "Armageddon caucus" in Congress -- a loose coalition of U.S. representatives who "survived targeted races."
- Ryan Alessi
Does Ted Jackson really think he can continue to run his mouth like he's some annointed expert and kingmaker in Louisville. He's an idiot who's in politics for self-serving reasons. Remember Northup is heading up Giuliani campaign in Kentucky? Did you know that Jackson's company has the exclusive rights to produce stickers, signs, hats, tshirts, etc. for the Giuliani campaign? Well, well...Ted Jackson has a horrible personality and is an egotistical, self-important know it all who will keep Anne from getting any of the 11-12 votes she would get from my family in the primary or the general. This east end bunch will not support her so long as Ted Jackson continues to represent her.
Posted by: Lville Lover | January 24, 2008 at 12:32 PM
If Annie runs, I hope she runs a more dignified and honest campaign than she did in the 2007 GOP gubernatorial primary.
Posted by: Different than last year? | January 24, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Anne ran a very honest race in her 2007 gubernatorial run. Too bad the majority of Republican primary voters were too dumb to realize that Ernie Fletcher was making our party walk the plank!
Posted by: Nicholasville Republican | January 24, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Anne has a real problem, not only will she have a challenger but she will have many loyal Republicans against her.
She burnt many bridges last year and now the chickens will come home to roost.
Posted by: annie has a problem | January 24, 2008 at 02:50 PM
If Mrs. Northup chooses to enter this race, she will be competitive in both the primary and general elections, but she will not be able to count on most the financial support she courted as a Congresswoman. Most of that money came from special interests, and since she no longer has the power, they no longer have her ear.
From a primary election perspective, she will obviously have an overwhelming name i.d. over any primary opponent. However with Thieneman already in, it will be a costly and "perhaps" brutal race. I would even say that whoever may earn the nomination will be fairly beaten up due to the harsh nature of Republican primaries.
Onto the General: Congressman John Yarmuth has done a fantastic job of representing this district. Taking on an incumbent during a presidential election year in a district that performs very Democratic will be very difficult. Given Northup defeated an incumbent during a presidential election year and went on to win four more terms, her win margins were very narrow.
John Yarmuth will have a race on his hands, but it is his to win, or lose.
Overall, huge advantage, Yarmuth.
Posted by: Truthfullyspeaking | January 24, 2008 at 04:25 PM
I have never voted for a Democrat, not do I live in Louisville, but I would travel there every weekend to campaign against ANNE NORTHUP in the Primary and General Elections with every ounce of effort I have.
She put a schism in the RPK that will take decades to fix and she will pay for that by never winning another election in Kentucky again.
Posted by: rasputin | January 24, 2008 at 05:22 PM
No need to be bitter Rasputin.
If you think Anne would even recognize Chris in a primary you are crazy. *IF* Anne gets in the race, she will win the primary 75-25 without ever mentioning Chris' name.
Wrie it down.
Posted by: Frank | January 25, 2008 at 10:01 AM
If she doews win the primary many Republicans will stay home in the general election. She will be soundly defeated in the general election. Come to think of it I hope she does run it would good to see fade into the darkness and this would definately do it.
Posted by: Anne out | January 25, 2008 at 03:58 PM