In the state's other closely watched race, Rush Holt defeated Carl Mayer for the Democratic nomination in a central New Jersey district spanning five counties.
Mr. Vas is also off his turf in this race: two-thirds of the population in this snakelike noncontiguous district, spanning 4 counties and 17 municipalities, is centered in Hudson County, Mr. Sires's domain.
But the map includes a new 35th district spanning from South Austin to eastern Bexar County — territory that voted 60 percent for Barack Obama in 2008 — laying the foundation for a dog-eat-dog Democratic primary.
Mr. Stupak has represented a giant district spanning the frozen top of Michigan since 1993, and had been expected to win re-election easily despite the controversy around his role in the health care law.
Bishop, who represents a vast rural district spanning much of northern Utah, has been described as a thorn in the side of Democrats hoping to pursue an aggressive environmental agenda.
Meanwhile, in a Senate district spanning parts of Westchester and the Bronx, Republican voters seemed to be rebelling against a common Albany mentality that holds that the only difference between political parties is the lobbyists who form their most dedicated cadre of campaign contributors.
Mr. Adler, whose district spans Camden, Burlington and Ocean Counties, is taking no chances this year.
The Virginia 7th District spans 10 counties — seven of which are suburban.
The Virginia 5th District spans 23 localities — 17 of which are rural or small towns and hold the most votes.
The hilltop district spans just six blocks along Gerrard Street East, but it's jammed with more than a hundred stores and restaurants.
Possibilities include Representative Maurice D. Hinchey, whose district spans eight counties and includes Poughkeepsie, Binghamton, and Ithaca, and Representative Louise M. Slaughter, whose western district includes parts of Buffalo and Rochester.
