At the start of North Carolina's most wide-open election season in years, more Republicans - including one in Afghanistan - as well as a prominent Democrat signaled plans to vie for the job of retiring U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick.
Republican Andy Dulin, a Charlotte City Council member, plans to announce for the 9th District seat today. And Democrat Jennifer Roberts, the former chairwoman of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, plans to join the race Friday.
They'll join at least four candidates who already have announced. More, including City Council member Edwin Peacock, former state Sen. Robert Pittenger and state Rep. Ric Killian, an Army reserve officer now on active duty, are expected to join. All three are Republicans.
Scores of candidates across North Carolina filed Monday for offices from county government to Raleigh to Washington. The filing period ends Feb. 29.
North Carolina already is assured of its heaviest political turnover in years. Myrick is one of at least three departing members of Congress. Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue and at least 31 legislators also are stepping down.
The turnover has created a scramble for offices across the state. Some is driven by redistricting, some by retirements that have opened seats such as Myrick's for the first time in nearly a generation.
GOP field still evolving
Only four people, all Republicans, have held the 9th District seat in 60 years. Three Republicans - Mecklenburg commissioner Jim Pendergraph and newcomers Michael Steinberg and Michael Shaffer - had already announced for her seat.
Republican Dan Barry, the mayor pro tem of Weddington, filed for the 9th District Monday after campaigning for months in the 8th District.
Pittenger said he's doing "careful due diligence."
"Have talked to many people about running and found lots of encouragement and will have a decision soon," he said in an email.
Killian, in Afghanistan, had sent paperwork to re-file for his legislative seat. But former Mecklenburg GOP Chairman Lee Teague said he expects Killian to change that to the 9th District.
Chris Swecker, a former assistant director of the FBI, said he also has been approached about running.
N.C. lawmakers this year redrew the Charlotte-centered district, removing eastern Gaston County and adding southern Iredell. Seventy-one percent of district residents live in Mecklenburg County; 15 percent live in Iredell and 14 percent in Union County.
'Turnout makes a difference'
On paper, Republicans have a strong advantage. Forty percent of district voters are registered Republicans, compared to 32 percent registered as Democrats. Unaffiliated voters make up 28 percent.
And they have history on their side. The district's last truly competitive race was for an open seat in 1984, when Republican Alex McMillan won by just 321 votes.
But a wild card this year could be the presidential race.
In 2008, President Barack Obama carried Mecklenburg County by 100,000 votes. Democrats say they hope to carry it this year by 120,000.
In the newly configured 9th District, Obama got 157,700 votes to Republican John McCain's 189,404. Another 20,000 votes could make the district more competitive for Democrats up and down the ticket.
"There's no question that turnout makes a difference," said Roberts, the former commissioners' chairwoman. "Certainly it's part of my decision."
Roberts, who announced in November that she would not seek another term on the county board, said she's had Republicans and Democrats urge her to run for Congress. The prospect of a crowded field, especially on the GOP side, doesn't appear to deter would-be candidates.
"There's one thing I've noticed," Peacock said. "Nobody is scaring anybody."
