Republicans had long since given up on a district they hadn't won since 1874 (Republicans haven't made a serious bid for the 5th since 1972), meaning that whoever won the Democratic primary was all but assured of victory in November.
Republicans had long since given up on a district they hadn't won since 1874, and Republicans haven't made a serious bid for the 5th since 1972. It was generally understood that whoever won the Democratic primary was all but assured of victory in November.