Incumbents Prevail In Ind., N.C. Primaries

A handful of incumbents in Indiana and North Carolina facing competitive primaries won their re-election bids Tuesday night.

Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) handily defeated three leading Democratic primary opponents just two months after winning a special election to succeed his late grandmother, Julia Carson, in Congress. With 94 percent of precincts reporting, Carson led his closest competitor, former state Health Commissioner Woodrow Myers, 46 to 24 percent.

Rep. Dan Burton, meanwhile, faced a closer-than-expected challenge from physician John McGoff, but won 52 to 45 percent, with 95 percent of precincts reporting.

In North Carolina, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) appears on his way to defeating Onslow County Commissioner Joe McLaughlin, whose campaign criticized the incumbent for his opposition to the Iraq war. Jones led McLaughlin, 60 to 40 percent, with about half of precincts reporting.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), is comfortably leading retired Air Force officer Lance Sigmon, 66 to 34 percent, with nearly all of the vote counted.

And Democratic state senator Kay Hagan easily won her party's nomination for the U.S. Senate, and will be challenging Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) in the November general election.