City Congress

SAN DIEGO -- Voters will cast ballots Tuesday to choose representatives in all five of San Diego County's congressional districts, with incumbents seeking re-election in all but one of them.

Duncan D. Hunter, a Marine Corps captain, is looking to succeed his father, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, in the 52nd District, which covers most of San Diego's East County.

The elder Hunter, who chairs the powerful House Armed Services Committee, has spent more than 25 years in Congress. Hunter announced he was vacating the seat amid a failed presidential bid.

Recent polling suggests that Duncan D. Hunter holds a commanding lead among the field of Republican candidates.

The other Republican candidates are Santee City Councilman Brian Jones, retired federal agent Rick Powell and Bob Watkins, president of the San Diego County Board of Education.

Democrats running in the 52nd Congressional District are entrepreneur and educator Vickie Butcher and retired Navy Seal Mike Lumpkin.

Small business owner Michael Benoit is running as a Libertarian. The winners from each party will square off in November.

In the 49th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, is the only Republican on the ballot. Businessman Robert Hamilton is the lone Democrat, while mortgage banker Lars Grossmith is the sole Libertarian.

The district includes parts of Riverside County and much of northern San Diego County including, Fallbrook, Vista and Oceanside.

Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Carlsbad, is running unopposed in the Republican primary in the 50th Congressional District, which includes most of the coastal communities in the North County.

School psychologist Cheryl Martin Ede and attorney Nick Leibham are running as Democrats. Wayne Dunlap, a small business owner, is running as a Libertarian.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, is being challenged by businessman Daniel Ramirez for the 51st Congressional District seat. Republicans on the ballot include mortgage broker Dan Felzer and businessman David Lee Joy. Software engineer Dan Litwin is running as Libertarian.

The 51st Congressional District includes the South Bay cities of Chula Vista, National City, the southern border of San Diego County and all of Imperial County.

Incumbent Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, is being challenged by Democrat microbiologist Mike Copass in the 53rd Congressional District.

There are two Republicans seeking the seat, including real estate broker Naomi Bar-Lev and teacher and military officer Michael Crimmins. Business owner and attorney Edward Teyssier is running as a Libertarian.

The 53rd Congressional District stretches from Torrey Pines along the coast to the U.S. and Mexico border and east to Lemon Grove. It includes most of the city of San Diego.