By Avelino Maestas

If nothing else, this year's election cycle has shown that Americans are prepared to try something new. That hasn’t always translated into a win for primary challengers this year, but as Donna Edwards [3] and Andy Harris [4] showed in Maryland [5], sometimes party voters are more than willing to oust an incumbent.

In Michigan [6] yesterday, it looked for a time as though voters might toss out another incumbent. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick [7] barely survived a spirited race against Martha Scott [8] and Mary Waters [9], edging out Waters by a 39.5 percent to 37.5 percent. Early returns had Waters in the lead, but in the end Kilpatrick was able to scrape by.

In Kansas [10], former Rep. Jim Ryun [11] lost his bid for the Republican nomination to regain his seat from Democratic incumbent Rep. Nancy Boyda [12]. Another former Congressman, Democrat Jim Slattery [13], is challenging Sen. Pat Roberts [14] (R) come November.

The crowded field of candidates for Missouri [15]’s 9th congressional district was narrowed to two: Democrat Judy Baker [16], a part-time non-profit director who also owns a consulting firm, will challenge Blaine Luetkemeyer [17] (R), a small businessman and farmer, in the November election.

As part of Congresspedia's Wiki the Vote [18] project, citizen journalists from around the country (and even some candidates!) have been logging information about the candidates' positions, biographies and records. A full list of the candidates and their professions are below, but you can also find them at their respective state portals via the Wiki the Vote project homepage [18]. We need your help to find out more about these candidates, so if you know something about them please add it to their profile. (You can always contact [19] one of the staff editors for help.)

Here are the victors of Kansas [10]’s primaries:

• Republican Sen. Pat Roberts [14] is being challenged by former House Rep. Jim Slattery [13], a Democrat.
• In the 1st district, incumbent Rep. Jerry Moran [20] (R) will face Democrat James Bordonaro [21] a small-business owner and substitute teacher.
• In the 2nd district, Democratic incumbent Rep. Nancy Boyda [12] is running against Lynn Jenkins [22] (R), the state treasurer.
• In the 3rd district, incumbent Rep. Dennis Moore [23], a Democrat, will be facing Nick Jordan [24], a state senator.
• In the 4th district, Republican incumbent Rep. Todd Tiahrt [25] is being challenger by state Sen. Donald Betts [26] (D).

Here are the victors of Michigan [6]’s primaries:

• Sen. Carl Levin [27] (D) is will face Jack Hoogendyk [28], a Republican state legislator.
• In the 1st district, incumbent Rep. Bart Stupak [29] (D) is facing Tom Casperson [30] (R), a member of the Michigan House of Representatives.
• In the 2nd district, Republican incumbent Rep. Peter Hoekstra [31] is being challenged by Feed Johnson [32] (D), an American history professor at Hope College.
• In the 3rd district, incumbent Rep. Vernon Ehlers [33], a Republican, will run against Henry Sanchez [34], a Democrat who owns a small business.
• In the 4th district, incumbent Rep. Dave Camp [35] (R) is facing Democrat Andrew Concannon [36], an attorney.
• In the 5th district, Democratic incumbent Rep. Dale Kildee [37] is being challenged by Matt Sawicki [38], a teacher of 16 years for Bangor Township Schools.
• In the 6th district, incumbent Rep. Fred Upton [39] (R) will be up against Democrat Don Cooney [40], a Kalamazoo city commissioner and professor at Western Michigan University.
• In the 7th district, Republican incumbent Rep. Tim Walberg [41] will face Mark Schauer [42], a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate.
• In the 8th district, incumbent Rep. Mike Rogers [43], a Republican, is running against Bob Alexander [44], a Democrat who owns a consulting firm.
• In the 9th district, incumbent Rep. Joe Knollenberg [45] (R), is being challenged by Democrat Gary Peters [46], an American government professor at Central Michigan University.
• In the 10th district, Republican incumbent Rep. Candice Miller [47] is up against Robert Denison [48], a Democrat and former labor organizer and lobbyist.
• In the 11th district, incumbent Rep. Thad McCotter [49] (R) is facing Joseph Larking [50] (D), an attorney.
• In the 12th district, incumbent Rep. Sandy Levin [51], a Democrat, is running against Republican Bert Copple [52], an associate pastor and a care-giver at a senior center.
• In the 13th district, Democratic incumbent Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick [7] is running against Edward Gubics [53], about whom we could find no information.
• In the 14th district, incumbent Rep. John Conyers [54] (D) faces no major-party opposition.
• In the 15th district, incumbent Rep. John Dingell [55] (D) is being challenged by Republican Jack Lynch [56], a member of the National Right to Life Committee and the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights.

Here are the victors of Missouri [15]’s primaries:

• Neither Senate seat is up for election.
• In the 1st district, incumbent Rep. Lacy Clay [57] (D) is running without major-party opposition.
• In the 2nd district, Republican incumbent Rep. Todd Akin [58] is facing Democrat Bill Haas [59], a law and ethics professor at Harris Stowe State University.
• In the 3rd district, Democratic incumbent Rep. Russ Carnahan [60] is being challenged by Chris Sander [61] a Republican who owns a mortgage services company .
• In the 4th district, incumbent Rep. Ike Skelton [62], a Democrat, is up against Jeff Parnell [63] (R), a small business owner.
• In the 5th district, incumbent Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver [64] (D) faces Jacob Turk [65], a Republican computer programmer and Marine veteran.
• In the 6th district, incumbent Rep. Sam Graves [66] (R) will run against Democrat Kay Barnes [67], former mayor of Kansas City.
• In the 7th district, Republican incumbent Rep. Roy Blunt [68] is being challenged by Richard Monroe [69] (D), a former prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and a small business owner.
• In the 8th district, incumbent Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [70], a Republican, is facing Joe Allen [71], a prosecuting attorney for the city of Rockaway Beach.
• In the 9th district, incumbent Rep. Kenny Hulshof [72] secured the Republican nomination for the gubernatorial race. Democrat Judy Baker [16], a part-time non-profit director who also owns a consulting firm, will challenge Blaine Luetkemeyer [17] (R), a small businessman and farmer, in the November election.