The Corydon Democrat reports Indiana 9th District Congressman Baron P. Hill faces three challengers this spring. “But the Democrat is expected to get his party’s nomination, setting up a fourth showdown with New Albany’s Mike Sodrel, who is unopposed in the Republican Primary,” the paper reports. Hill has won two races and lost one to Sodrel. Hill defeated Sodrel in 2002 and then lost in 2004 as a three-term incumbent. Hill then recaptured the seat in 2006. “Each of those races was decided by 5 percentage points or less, and local chairs of both parties don’t expect a potential fourth race to be any different,” the paper reported. “I think this will be a very close race,” Crawford County GOP Chair Daniel Crecelius said.

Seven term Republican incumbent Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo of New Jersey could face a challenge in the 2nd District from Cape May City Councilman and businessman David Kurkowski, the Press of Atlantic City reported Tuesday. He must file by April 7. Kurkowski runs Kurkowski Market Research, a Cape May firm specializing in health-care research, focus groups, consumer research, fundraising and jury research. He won election to the Cape May City Council in 2006 and holds master’s and doctorate degrees in political science. State Democratic leaders have been trying to find a candidate to take on LoBiondo for some time. Former Fairfield Township Deputy Mayor Viola Thomas-Hughes and Bridgeton City Councilwoman Celeste Riley had both expressed interest in running. But Thomas-Hughes, who ran unsuccessfully against LoBiondo in 2006, said she would support whoever party leaders nominate. Riley pledged the same, according to Assemblyman Doug Fisher, D-Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, after ruling out a run, the paper reported.