Long time Republican incumbent Duncan Hunter has vacated his seat to run for President, creating an open seat contest in this Republican leaning district. Speculation suggested that the seat would easily pass to Hunter’s son Marine Capt. Duncan D. Hunter, but several other Republicans have surfaced to challenge him for the nomination. Democrats landed a solid candidate for the seat when retired Navy SEAL commander Mike Lumpkin announced his candidacy. Military background is of major importance in this district, which contains a large military population. Any Democrat faces an uphill in this district; President Bush received 61 percent of the vote in this district in 2004, but if the political environment favors Democrats this could become an interesting race.