Which One of These Candidates Will Replace Mel Watt in Congress?

A crowded field runs to replace former Rep. Mel Watt.

Mel Watt - All eyes are on the North Carolina U.S. Senate race, but several candidates have lined up to fill the congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Mel Watt, who stepped down to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. State legislator Alma Adams is expected to win the May 6 primary, but that hasn't stopped several other Democrats and two Republicans from giving it a good Tar Heel try. —Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Mel Watt - All eyes are on the North Carolina U.S. Senate race, but several candidates have lined up to fill the congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Mel Watt, who stepped down to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. State legislator Alma Adams is expected to win the May 6 primary, but that hasn't stopped several other Democrats and two Republicans from giving it a good Tar Heel try. —Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Ravi Patel - Ravi Patel is a Vietnam war veteran who served as mayor of East Spencer, North Carolina, from 1997 to 1999. He is the only candidate who is running just for the special election to complete Watt's term, set to end in January 2015. (Photo: Rajive Patel for 12th District Congress)

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Ravi Patel - Ravi Patel is a Vietnam war veteran who served as mayor of East Spencer, North Carolina, from 1997 to 1999. He is the only candidate who is running just for the special election to complete Watt's term, set to end in January 2015. (Photo: Rajive Patel for 12th District Congress)

Alma Adams - The conventional wisdom is that art professor and state Rep. Alma Adams will win the May primary. According to Emily's List, which has endorsed her candidacy, Adams has a "strong record of leadership on choice, equality, education and the environment" and is "ready to take her brand of no-nonsense leadership to Congress — and bring a woman’s perspective to the Tar Heel state’s currently all-male Democratic House delegation."  (Photo: North Carolina General Assembly)

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Alma Adams - The conventional wisdom is that art professor and state Rep. Alma Adams will win the May primary. According to Emily's List, which has endorsed her candidacy, Adams has a "strong record of leadership on choice, equality, education and the environment" and is "ready to take her brand of no-nonsense leadership to Congress — and bring a woman’s perspective to the Tar Heel state’s currently all-male Democratic House delegation."  (Photo: North Carolina General Assembly)

Marcus Brandon - If elected, state Rep. Marcus Brandon would become the first openly gay Black member of Congress. In an interview with the Winston-Salem Journal, he said he would work with Republican lawmakers in Washington in the same way he has in Raleigh. (Photo: North Carolina General Assembly)

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Marcus Brandon - If elected, state Rep. Marcus Brandon would become the first openly gay Black member of Congress. In an interview with the Winston-Salem Journal, he said he would work with Republican lawmakers in Washington in the same way he has in Raleigh. (Photo: North Carolina General Assembly)

Malcolm Graham - Sen. Malcolm Graham has served in the North Carolina Senate for 10 years and also is a special assistant to the president at Johnson C. Smith University. He says his "wide variety of experience" makes him "uniquely qualified" to serve in Congress. (Photo: North Carolina General Assembly)

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Malcolm Graham - Sen. Malcolm Graham has served in the North Carolina Senate for 10 years and also is a special assistant to the president at Johnson C. Smith University. He says his "wide variety of experience" makes him "uniquely qualified" to serve in Congress. (Photo: North Carolina General Assembly)

Photo By Photo: North Carolina General Assembly

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George Battle - Attorney George Battle is general counsel for the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board. He previously was lead counsel for Cleveland County Health Care System and the Carolinas College of Health Sciences. Battle says he decided to run for Congress "to help tackle the tough issues we face.” (Photo: Battle for Congress)

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George Battle - Attorney George Battle is general counsel for the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board. He previously was lead counsel for Cleveland County Health Care System and the Carolinas College of Health Sciences. Battle says he decided to run for Congress "to help tackle the tough issues we face.” (Photo: Battle for Congress)

Photo By Photo: Battle for Congress

Curtis Osborne - Attorney Curtis Osborne, who holds two law degrees, was raised by a single mother in public housing and has used his education to seek fairness for people battling discrimination in various forms. He says that if elected, he "will represent the hard working families who too often feel neglected by a political system where big corporations and partisan agendas hold undue influence." (Photo: Osborne 4 Congress)

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Curtis Osborne - Attorney Curtis Osborne, who holds two law degrees, was raised by a single mother in public housing and has used his education to seek fairness for people battling discrimination in various forms. He says that if elected, he "will represent the hard working families who too often feel neglected by a political system where big corporations and partisan agendas hold undue influence." (Photo: Osborne 4 Congress)

Archie Leon Threatt - Rev. Archie Leon Threatt is one of two Republicans running to complete Watt's term and the seat's next two-year term. He is a former marine and officer in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Threatt says he is "deeply committed to seeing our nation regain its strong footing." (Photo: Vote Threatt via facebook)

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Archie Leon Threatt - Rev. Archie Leon Threatt is one of two Republicans running to complete Watt's term and the seat's next two-year term. He is a former marine and officer in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Threatt says he is "deeply committed to seeing our nation regain its strong footing." (Photo: Vote Threatt via facebook)

Photo By Photo: Vote Threatt via facebook

Vince Coakley for Congress (North Carolina) - Vince Coakley hopes to "transform" North Carolina's 12th congressional district as its U.S. representative. "I am running to make sure freedom is on the ballot.  At the end of the day, this is not about personalities or parties, but principles of liberty. That's why I am running for Congress. My first job is to make sure your God-given freedoms enumerated in the Constitution are upheld," he says. The former Charlotte broadcast television journalist, anchor, and radio host is challenging Democratic nominee Alma Adams to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. Mel Watt.(Photo: Vince Coakley for Congress)

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Vince Coakley - Radio talk-show host Vince Coakley says he wants to "end the dysfunction" in Congress. He is running for office, he says, to make sure that "freedom is on the ballot." (Photo: Vince Coakley for Congress)