Some notes on some of the interesting intra-party races coming in the months ahead.

*In Delaware, 2008 Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell (R) says she'll announce her candidacy tomorrow for the special election in November to complete Vice President Joe Biden's unexpired term. Rep. Mike Castle (R) is still a heavy favorite to win that nomination in September, but O'Donnell is hoping to tap into the national conservative momentum in that race. "Delaware now steps into the larger national drama unfolding between establishment Washington incumbents and their grassroots challengers as the Christine O'Donnell v. Mike Castle primary race is officially launched," her campaign says. Primary September 14

*When former Gov. Terry Branstad (R) entered the race for governor, it didn't scare the whole GOP field off. And now, perhaps Bob Vander Plaats (R) is showing he can give the four-term Iowa leader a race. The Des Moines Register reported yesterday that Vander Plaats beat Branstad in three country straw polls this weekend. “A lot people have already coronated Branstad, but it's a lot closer than that, especially among activists,” Story County GOP chair AJ Spiker told the paper. Mike Huckabee, winner of the 2008 caucuses, has made several stops in the Hawkeye State for Vander Plaats. Primary June 8

*On the Democratic side, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI) looks like she'll again face a tough race for renomination. The Detroit Free Press reports that state Sen. Hansen Clarke announced his candidacy in the 13th District yesterday, saying the time "is ripe for a run for the seat because of public discontent with Congress." Kilpatrick narrowly won her primary in 2008 as her son, then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, was in the midst of scandal. Primary August 3

--------------------------------------------
Follow the RCP Blog on Twitter.
Become a fan of RCP on Facebook.
--------------------------------------------