U.S. Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh easily won Tuesday's Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District, while Republican B.J. Lawson of Cary claimed his party's support to take on incumbent U.S. Rep. David Price for the 4th Congressional District seat this fall.

One of only four members of North Carolina's House delegation to face opponents in Tuesday's primaries, Miller claimed almost 89 percent of the primary vote to defeat rookie candidate Derald Hafner, a Franklinton machine shop owner and fledgling organic farmer.

Lawson, a medical software entrepreneur, claimed nearly 71 percent of the vote in his primary to defeat Augustus Cho, the outgoing chairman of the Orange County Republican Party.

The economic issues that have framed the Democratic campaign in the 13th Congressional District will continue to frame the race against Republican challenger Hugh Webster, a former state senator, in November.

"I think that he is to the left of the voters of the district, and if I can get that through to the people, that will be his undoing," Webster said of Miller.

Noting that Webster was a vocal supporter of Vernon Robinson, Miller's opponent two years ago, Miller deflected the criticism.

"I think the last election showed who was out of step with the district," Miller said.

In the 4th Congressional District, Lawson said economic circumstances will help him get voters' attention in the race against incumbent Price.

"People are upset about our gas prices going up; they're upset about and concerned about grocery bills," Lawson said. "I think really it's our challenge to get out there, let people know there is a way that we can move through these challenges, ... and that doesn't involve more and bigger government."

In the closely watched 3rd Congressional District, seven-term GOP Rep. Walter Jones survived a challenge from Joe McLaughlin by winning almost 60 percent of the vote.

Known once for introducing "freedom fries" to Washington as a protest of French opposition to the Iraq war, Jones had been considered unbeatable before becoming a vocal opponent of the war. But representing a district that's home to the Marine Corps' Camp Lejeune and other bases, Jones has found himself increasingly at odds with the Republican Party because of his anti-war in Iraq conversion.

Jones will face Democrat Craig Weber in November, a rematch of the 2006 general election.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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