GOP incumbents face challenges on immigration

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Immigration is turning into an election battleground among Republicans, with several challengers running primary campaigns against leading congressional supporters of legalizing illegal aliens.

Rep. Christopher B. Cannon, Utah Republican and a prominent legalization supporter, failed to win 60 percent of the vote at a Republican nominating convention a little more than a week ago. Now, he faces a primary next month against Matt Throckmorton, a former state legislator who is running hard on the immigration issue.

"It's the biggest issue in the race, without a doubt," Mr. Throckmorton said.

Immigration emerged as an election issue particularly in California, where Arnold Schwarzenegger's opposition to driver's licenses for illegal aliens helped him win the governorship last year.

Now, the issue is playing a major role in some Republican primaries.

"What's really new is people challenging Republican incumbents," said Roy Beck, executive director of Numbers USA, an organization that lobbies for stricter immigration controls.

Although Utah might not be the most likely place for immigration to become the defining point, Arizona is an obvious target, where two Republican incumbents are fighting off challengers.

Rep. Jim Kolbe is being challenged by state Rep. Randy Graf, and Rep. Jeff Flake faces Stan Barnes.

Mr. Kolbe and Mr. Flake, along with Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, are sponsoring a broad guest-worker program that would allow a path to citizenship for most illegal aliens in the United States, and Mr. Cannon has introduced a bill to allow illegal aliens working in some agricultural areas to gain legal status.

Those programs amount to amnesty for illegal behavior, say their challengers.