IL Burris (D)

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Illinois finds that Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) has a good chance to make next year’s U.S. Senate race a competitive one.

Kirk is tied with Alexi Giannoulias (D), 35% to 35%, and leads Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), 37% to 33%. In addition, Kirk would crush Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL), 53% to 19%.

However, if Lisa Madigan (D) made a surprise decision to run for this seat it would be no contest, as she leads Kirk 49% to 33%.

CO Bennet (D)

Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck has filed the papers to challenge Colorado’s freshman Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet

Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier has formed an exploratory committee, and radio host Dan Caplis and 

former congressman Bob Beauprez are potential Republican candidates.

NV Reid (D)

A New York banker with roots in Ely is exploring a run against U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. 

John G. Chachas, a managing director of Lazard Ltd., has been talking to Republican Party bigwigs in Nevada and Washington who are anxious to find a credible challenger to the Senate majority leader, sources said this week.

GA Open Gov (R)

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) is planning to run for governor of Georgia, according to the publication InsiderAdvantage Georgia.

Secretary of State Karen Handel, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and state Rep. Austin Scott are all currently seeking the GOP gubernatorial nomination.

MA Patrick (D)

Christy Mihos, who as an independent sought the state’s highest post in 2006, intends to run again for governor, this time as a Republican.

Congressional Updates:

CA 44 Calvert (R)

Hedrick, a member of the Corona-Norco Board of Education, announced Wednesday he will seek a rematch with Republican Rep. Ken Calvert after Hedrick’s narrow 2008 loss to the incumbent. Calvert narrowly won re-election to a ninth term in November with just 51 percent of the vote over Hedrick, who received 49 percent

CA 45 Mary Bono (R)

Pougnet, mayor of Palm Springs, filed paperwork in March to run against Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack but made his first official campaign announcement Tuesday.

In addition to the 44th and 45th, the DCCC is targeting Dan Lungren’s 3rd, Elton Gallegly’s 24th, Howard P. “Buck” McKeon’s25th, David Dreier’s 26th, John Campbell’s 48th, and Brian P. Bilbray’s 50th.