When 42 new Democrats entered the House of Representatives last year, many of the freshmen were destined to become instant targets of the GOP in 2008. That's especially true of those hailing from normally right-leaning districts. But none has a bigger bull's eye on his back than Rep. Nick Lampson, who in 2006 won the open 22nd District in Texas that had been vacated by former Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

His race this year is guaranteed to be more challenging than Mr. Lampson's 2006 run, when no Republican was even on the ballot -- the result of an awkward exit from Congress by Mr. DeLay that led to a federal court barring the GOP from replacing his name on the ballot. On Tuesday, Mr. Lampson learned whom he'll be facing: Pete Olson, a Naval Reserve officer and former aide to Sen. John Cornyn. Mr. Olson easily won a GOP primary run-off election against former Rep. Shelley Sekula Gibbs. He was the undoubted favorite of GOP honchos at the national level -- Ms. Sekula Gibbs had left a bad impression during her brief time in Washington after winning the special election to fill the remaining two months of Mr. DeLay's term.

With their choice candidate now officially on the ballot in November, national Republican leaders have reason for optimism. President Bush won 64% of the district's vote in 2004, and Mr. Lampson won by just 10 points in 2006, despite the lack of a Republican name on the ballot (Ms. Sekula-Gibbs received 42% as a write-in). While Democrats appear poised to extend their House majority in November, they may be forced to give up seats like this one that would only go blue under extreme circumstances -- as in 2006.