Colleagues describe Mr. Ney as simple and down-to-earth, a reflection of the mainly blue-collar district in eastern Ohio that he represents.

Corne Mulder won 64 percent of the vote in a two-way contest with the ruling National Party in the blue-collar district.

The economy and immigration loom as large as Iraq in this blue-collar district.

Paradoxically, the Georgia Democrats who carved up his old blue-collar district, where he was narrowly re-elected two years ago, may have done him a favor.

He was known for bucking his party's leadership on issues important to his mostly blue-collar district, such as championing the needs of the beleaguered steel industry.

He won election from a blue-collar district of his city, running on a platform of economic and legal reform.

Bonior, 46, renowned as a blunt-spoken liberal, had represented a blue-collar district of Michigan since 1977 and had been appointed as deputy chief whip in 1987.

Two years ago, the state realized that Timken had overpaid $1.4 million in school taxes to Perry, a blue-collar district with financial difficulties.

As an observant Jew who trounced a Polish Catholic opponent in a blue-collar Catholic district, Emanuel did not worry about the authenticity deficit.

He was a darling of business groups but also managed to win relatively high marks from organized labor, an important constituency in his blue-collar district.