Elect an entrepreneur

Party: Republican
District: California, 8th
Incumbent and challenger: Nancy Pelosi
Other challengers: Cindy Sheehan (Independent), Philip Z. Berg (Libertarian)
danawalshforcongress.com
Outcome: Lost

Dana Walsh has no delusions that she'll win her campaign for California's 8th district.

Challenging 11-term incumbent and current Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is "as close to a political suicide mission as a Republican can undertake," in the words of Congressional Quarterly. Still, Walsh is undaunted

"I always say the Republicans are here to keep a finger in the dike - to keep things from falling apart," says the owner of interior design firm Dana Walsh Design and president of Nob Hill Republican Women. "I wanted to run because I believe Pelosi has failed on the most important issues facing us today: on the war, surveillance of the country, secure borders, taxes and energy."

All of those issues are hot topics in Walsh's campaign. If elected, she pledges to focus on halting illegal immigration, increasing oil drilling in the U.S. and reducing taxes, especially on those with higher incomes. "The rich can't be the whipping boys forever," she says.

Despite the poor odds, Walsh has managed to attract more funding than is typical for a Republican candidate in the district that covers most of San Francisco. That's thanks in part to the challenge from Cindy Sheehan, a left-wing antiwar candidate running as an Independent who has called for the impeachment of President Bush. Some analysts believe she's more likely than Walsh to win second place in November.

"It's a tough thing to be a Republican candidate in this city," says Walsh, who adds that her Congressional bid has taken a toll on her company as well. "I would not recommend it as a good business venture. I'm definitely taking a hit. But I've told clients we're back on track starting January."

NEXT: Harry Teague