Here are the most competitive races that will determine the composition of the 110th Congress. As matters stand, pro-lifers appear likely to lose ground in both houses of Congress.

Italics denote the more pro-life candidate.

U.S. House: Weiss vs. Graf (projected)

U.S. Senate: Kyl vs. Pederson

The retirement of strongly pro-abortion Rep. Jim Kolbe, a Republican, is a relief for pro-lifers. From his position as chairman of a key appropriations subcommittee, Kolbe proved a great friend of the international population control movement. His district, however, is likely to go to one of two pro-abortion Democrats. The only pro-lifer in the race, who is likely to get the Republican nomination, is former State Rep. Randy Graf, a Catholic. Pro-life Sen. Jon Kyl, a Republican, also faces a challenge from millionaire Jim Pedersen.

U.S. House: O’Donnell vs. challenger, Paccione vs. Musgrave

Pro-life Republican Rick O’Donnell will seek to win the evenly divided suburban Denver district of pro-life Rep. Bob Beauprez, also a Republican. He will face one of two pro-abortion Democrats. In the eastern half of the state, pro-abortion Rep. Angie Paccione is challenging the outspokenly pro-life Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.

U.S. House: Barrow vs. Burns

Pro-abortion Rep. John Barrow, a Democrat, faces a rematch against Republican former Rep. Max Burns for a seat that has been made more Republican by a 2005 redistricting bill.

U.S. House: Bean vs. McSweeney, Roskam vs. Duckworth

In the northern Chicago suburbs, pro-abortion Democrat Rep. Melissa Bean faces pro-life businessman David McSweeney, a Republican, in one of the best pro-life pickup opportunities. The district leans Republican. To the south, Republican pro-life state Sen. Peter Roskam vies against pro-abortion Democrat Tammy Duckworth to replace Republican pro-life leader Rep. Henry Hyde.

U.S. House: Sodrel vs. Hill

Rep. Mike Sodrel, a pro-life Republican from the southeastern part of the state, faces a re-rematch against Democrat and former Rep. Baron Hill, to whom Sodrel lost in 2002 before defeating him in 2004. While in Congress, Hill amassed a mixed but mostly pro-abortion record.

U.S. House: Boswell vs. Lamberti, Nussle seat

Pro-abortion Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell is seriously threatened by the well-funded challenge of state Senate Co-President Jeff Lamberti, a Republican. The Des Moines-area district voted for President Bush in 2004. Meanwhile, the seat of solidly pro-life Republican Rep. Jim Nussle is a top target for the abortion lobby as Nussle leaves it to run for governor.

U.S. Senate: Steele vs. Cardin (projected)

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a pro-life Catholic Republican, will compete with one of two pro-abortion Democrats to replace pro-abortion Sen. Paul Sarbanes in the Senate.

U.S. Senate: Stabenow vs. Bouchard (projected)

U.S. House: Schwarz vs. Wahlberg

Republican Rep. Joe Schwarz, campaigning as a pro-abortion candidate, won a crowded primary in 2004 in which five pro-lifers split the vote in an open-seat race. Since coming to Congress, the freshman has voted pro-life roughly three-quarters of the time. This year, he faces just one challenger, pro-life former state Rep. Tim Wahlberg, also a Republican. The vote is Aug. 8. In the November general election, the strongly pro-abortion Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow faces re-election, probably against pro-life Republican Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard in one of the closest races in the country.

U.S. Senate: Kennedy vs. Klobucher

U.S. House: Bachmann vs. Wetterling

Pro-lifers have a chance to gain a Senate seat here as Republican Rep. Mark Kennedy seeks to replace retiring pro-abortion Democrat Mark Dayton. His opponent, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, is a favorite of Emily’s List, which works to elect pro-abortion Democratic women to office. The race to replace Kennedy in Congress is between an outspoken pro-life leader, state Sen. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, and pro-abortion Democrat and 2004 nominee Patty Wetterling. Democrats gave Wetterling the nomination at a local party convention this month over pro-lifer Elwyn Tinklenberg.

U.S. Senate: Talent vs. McCaskill

Pro-life Republican Sen. Jim Talent faces a tough challenge from a favorite candidate of the pro-abortion Emily’s list, Democratic State Auditor Claire McCaskill.

U.S. Senate: Burns vs. challengers

Sen. Conrad Burns, a pro-life Republican, is in danger of losing his seat to one of two pro-abortion candidates over his dealings with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

U.S. House: Fortenberry vs. Moul

Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a pro-lifer and the first graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville to reach Congress, faces pro-abortion former Lt. Gov. Maxine Moul, a Democrat.

U.S. House: Wilson vs. Madrid

Rep. Heather Wilson, a Republican who votes pro-life about 80% of the time, faces a tough re-election against Emily’s list favorite Patricia Madrid, the current state attorney general and a Democrat.

U.S. Senate: Meier vs. challenger

U.S. House: Sweeney vs. Gillibrand

Pro-life state Sen. Raymond Meier, R-Utica, will try to succeed retiring pro-abortion Republican Rep. Sherwood Boehlert. Meanwhile, pro-life Rep. John Sweeney, a Republican, will have a strong challenge from Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.

U.S. Senate: DeWine vs. Brown

U.S. House: Ney vs. challenger

Although there are five competitive House races, only that of embattled Republican Rep. Bob Ney would change the pro-life composition of the delegation. Ney is safe unless he is indicted in connection with the Jack Abramoff scandal. In the Senate, pro-life Republican incumbent Mike DeWine faces virulently pro-abortion Democratic Rep. Sherrod Brown in a tough race.

U.S. Senate: Santorum vs. Casey

U.S. House: Gerlach, Weldon, Fitzpatrick and Sherwood vs. challengers

Ground zero for the pro-life battle, the Keystone State features four key races in which pro-lifers are endangered. Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, who has led on many pro-life issues in the Senate, is fighting for his political life against state Treasurer Bob Casey, a Democrat who is nominally pro-life but has stated he would participate in Democratic filibusters against pro-life judges in the Senate. In the Philadelphia area, two-term Republican Rep. Jim Gerlach, who has voted mostly pro-life, and veteran Republican Rep. Curt Weldon are in serious danger of losing to well-funded pro-abortion opponents, and Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick is in moderate danger. Also in trouble, due to personal and ethical problems, is pro-life Rep. Don Sherwood, a Republican who barely won his May 16 primary against a candidate who barely did anything in his campaign.

U.S. Senate: Laffey vs. Chafee (primary)

Pro-abortion Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee faces a Sept. 12 primary against the pro-life Republican mayor of Cranston, Stephen Laffey. The winner will face pro-abortion former Atty. Gen. Sheldon Whitehouse.

U.S. House: Spratt vs. Norman

Veteran Rep. John Spratt, one of the most solidly pro-abortion white Democrats in the South, faces a challenge from state Rep. Ralph Norman, R-York.

U.S. Senate:

Ford vs. challengers

The state’s Aug. 3 Republican primary to replace Sen. Bill Frist (l) is between two solid pro-lifers — former Reps. Van Hilleary and Ed Bryant — and Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, who now claims to be pro-life but has a mixed-record. The winner faces pro-abortion Democratic Rep. Harold Ford in November.

U.S. House: Lampson vs. challenger

Pro-abortion former Rep. Nick Lampson, a Democrat, is seeking to replace Republican pro-life Rep. Tom DeLay, who will leave Congress in early June. All of the possible Republican replacements for DeLay on the ballot are pro-lifers.

U.S. Senate: Raese vs. Byrd

Pro-life industrialist John Raese, a Republican, won the nomination to challenge the aging pro-abortion Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd. Byrd is the clear favorite, but his frailty is so noticeable that he could be beaten or forced out of the race.

U.S. Senate: Gaard or McCormick vs. Nussbaum

One of two pro-life Republicans, either State House Speaker John Gaard or Rep. Terri McCormick, R-Appleton, will face Democratic pro-abortion former county executive Nancy Nussbaum to replace pro-life Republican Rep. Mark Green.

— David Freddoso