3rd Congressional District

U.S. Rep.Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) should expect a tough re-election race regardless of whether national Democrats take notice or not, challenger Bill Durston said Thursday.

Durston, an emergency doctor from Gold River, said he plans to make campaign issues of Lungren's recent appearance on a television report that cast him in a poor light and his refusal so far to debate Durston.

"I think he's going to avoid debating as much as possible," said Durston, who challenged and lost to Lungren in 2006.