Esch gets rematch with Terry

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BY DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

Jim Esch sailed Tuesday night to a November rematch with Republican Rep. Lee Terry in metropolitan Omaha’s 2nd District.

Esch, 32, swamped Richard Carter to win the Democratic nomination in the featured House primary election contest.

Two years ago, Esch rode under the radar with a underfinanced campaign to within 10 points of the five-term Omaha congressman.

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This year’s volatile political dynamics point to the Omaha district as the most competitive congressional battleground in the state.

Terry, 46, romped past Steven Laird to claim the GOP nod.

In the 1st District, which includes Lincoln, Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and Democratic challenger Max Yashirin had no primary opposition.

Fortenberry, 47, a former Lincoln city councilman, will be seeking his third term in the 24-county eastern Nebraska district.

Yashirin, 25, is a political newcomer who served in Iraq as a U.S. Marine sergeant.

Democrats last won a 1st District seat in 1964.

Rep. Adrian Smith of Gering buried Jeremiah Ellison of Grand Island for the Republican nomination in western and central Nebraska’s 69-county 3rd District.

Smith, 37, who previously served eight years in the Legislature, is seeking re-election to a second term.

His Democratic opponent will be Jay Stoddard of Grand Island, who defeated Paul Spatz of Plainview for his party’s nod.

Democrats haven’t won the western Nebraska House seat for 50 years.

The Omaha district is viewed as the best opportunity for a Democratic breakthrough, especially in a year when Sen. Barack Obama could energize new urban voters if he’s his party’s presidential nominee.

Republicans, however, have won seven straight elections in the 2nd District.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.