Incumbent Democrats who could face tough GOP challenges

by Adnan Alam

By Cronkite News Service

A quick look at incumbent Democrats in the U.S. House could face strong Republican challenges:

_ U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick: Could be targeted because she’s in her first term representing the sprawling First Congressional District, which covers much of northern and eastern Arizona and stretches into Pinal County. She replaced an indicted Republican, Rick Renzi.

_ U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell: The Fifth Congressional District leans Republican in voter registration, but Mitchell defeated long-serving Republican J.D. Hayworth in 2006 and cruised to re-election in 2008.

_ U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords: Republican voters have a slight edge in the Eighth Congressional District, but Giffords, who won election in 2006, won re-election handily in 2008.