55 also-rans from 2006 give House seat another whirl

FANWOOD, N.J. -- Democrat Linda Stender hopes to repeat much of what she did when she ran for Congress in 2006 — everything but the part where she lost the election.

Stender, a New Jersey state lawmaker, lost to a Republican incumbent two years ago by fewer than 3,000 votes. Now, she is making a second run in a race that is among the most competitive in the nation.

"Last time, I think I spent most of my time trying to convince people that we could win," Stender, 57, said. "Now, people are acting like I've already won, which concerns me because we haven't won."

Stender is one of 55 Democratic and Republican challengers taking another run at the U.S. House this year after losing in 2006, according to a USA TODAY analysis. Of the repeat contenders, 19 are running in races considered competitive by the non-partisan Cook Political Report.

Ohio Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, for instance, in 2006 came within 1,100 votes of beating the incumbent, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce, who is retiring. Kilroy now faces Republican state Sen. Steve Stivers.

In southern Indiana, Republican Mike Sodrel lost close races to Democrat Rep. Baron Hill in 2002 and 2006, but won the seat in 2004 by 1,425 votes, less than 1 percentage point. This year, Sodrel is back for another try.

"The contrast between the parties and the philosophies are very stark," said Sodrel, 62. "It was important when I ran in 2002, and I think it's even more important today."

Stigma of defeat

Candidates running again benefit from inherent advantages and can suffer from the stigma of earlier defeat, said David Wasserman, House editor of the Cook Political Report.

"One advantage is that the electorate already knows your name," he said. "Of course, the main disadvantage is that … your opponent can paint you as a sore loser."

In 2006, discontent over Iraq helped propel Democrats to victory. The party won enough seats to take control of both houses of Congress for the first time since 1994.

Several Republicans facing repeat candidates said Democrats may not benefit from a do-over.