Primary disparities

[Padfoot]

It seems to me that the Republicans have much more crowded primaries for congressional office than their Democratic counterparts in many of the hotly contended House and Senate races.  In fact, I'd say the Democrats are doing everything in their power to avoid primaries whereas the Republicans seem content to let 8-10 people run in each of them.  What affect will this have on the general election?  Does this difference give Democrats even more advantages and will it allow them to increase their majority in the House?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Just out of curiosity, where are all these "crowded primaries" for U.S. Senate races?

[Padfoot]

Just out of curiosity, where are all these "crowded primaries" for U.S. Senate races?

New Mexico is really the only one for the Senate.  I didn't mean to imply their were others for the Senate.  My mistake. 

But is there a tendency for more crowded GOP primaries or am I just imagining things?  Has anyone else noticed a significant difference?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Just out of curiosity, where are all these "crowded primaries" for U.S. Senate races?

New Mexico is really the only one for the Senate.  I didn't mean to imply their were others for the Senate.  My mistake. 

But is there a tendency for more crowded GOP primaries or am I just imagining things?  Has anyone else noticed a significant difference?

Well, I don't know if you're imagining things, per se, but most of those "crowded primaries" are on the GOP side because
(1) there are far more GOP seats open than Democratic seats
(2) most of the competitive GOP primaries are in safe seats (or historically Republican in the case of NJ-03 and NJ-07, both with competitive GOP primaries looming next June).