Oklahoma Congressional Elections

The only black Republican in Congress announced Monday that he will run for reelection this year rather than leave the House at the end of this session, saving Republicans from a scramble to try to replace him as chairman of the House GOP Conference. Ending months of suspense over rumors that he was about to leave the House, Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. (R-Okla.) told a news conference that he has decided to run again, even though he supported a GOP plan in 1994 to limit congressional terms to six years.

The only black Republican in Congress announced Monday that he will run for reelection this year rather than leave the House at the end of this session, saving Republicans from a scramble to try to replace him as chairman of the House GOP Conference. Ending months of suspense over rumors that he was about to leave the House, Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. (R-Okla.) told a news conference that he has decided to run again, even though he supported a GOP plan in 1994 to limit congressional terms to six years.

In a stunning upset, Oklahoma Rep. Mike Synar lost a Democratic runoff Tuesday to a little-known retired school principal, becoming the third incumbent this year to lose a congressional primary election. In Massachusetts' primary, W. Mitt Romney, son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney, easily won the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. State Rep.

The defeat of liberal Rep. Mike Synar (D-Okla.) in a primary contest Tuesday served as a "wake-up call" for many Democratic incumbents and may push a nervous Congress into adjourning earlier than expected so members will have more time to campaign for the November elections. Already facing the prospect of losing 20 to 25 seats in the House, Democrats said they feared the toll may be higher if Synar's defeat signaled widespread voter unrest.

The defeat of liberal Rep. Mike Synar (D-Okla.) in a primary contest Tuesday served as a "wake-up call" for many Democratic incumbents and may push a nervous Congress into adjourning earlier than expected so members will have more time to campaign for the November elections. Already facing the prospect of losing 20 to 25 seats in the House, Democrats said they feared the toll may be higher if Synar's defeat signaled widespread voter unrest.

In a stunning upset, Oklahoma Rep. Mike Synar lost a Democratic runoff Tuesday to a little-known retired school principal, becoming the third incumbent this year to lose a congressional primary election. In Massachusetts' primary, W. Mitt Romney, son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney, easily won the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. State Rep.