Minneapolis FBI Agent Coleen Rowley rose to national prominence in 2002 when she exposed glaring gaps in pre–September 11 intelligence gathering and information sharing among U.S. law enforcement officials. Based on Rowley's iconic status (Time magazine named her one of its “Persons of the Year”) and national security expertise, Democratic Party officials and members of Minnesota's congressional delegation encouraged her to throw her hat into the ring and challenge Congressman John Kline (R–MN) in 2004. Rowley turned down the invitation, explaining that she lacked the characteristics necessary to be a retail politician: “As a child, I only sold sixteen boxes of Girl Scout cookies. I was the lowest in the whole troop.” Yet two years later, something changed. Perhaps the Democrats’ sustained recruitment efforts paid off. Maybe Rowley, who wanted to weigh in on issues of national security, was frustrated that President Bush did not name her to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Or it is possible that Rowley became more comfortable with the idea of being a candidate for public office. But with no additional experience or “skills” under her belt, and facing the same incumbent, Rowley announced her foray into electoral politics. The first-time candidate entered the 2006 congressional race and performed rather well; she garnered 40 percent of the vote.

Party leaders did not recruit James Crabtree to run for office, and he lacked name recognition and notoriety, but he also sought an elective position in 2006. While serving in Iraq, Crabtree was among approximately one hundred marines from Travis County, Texas, who did not receive an absentee ballot in time to vote in the 2004 elections. When he returned to the United States in 2005, Crabtree investigated the situation and determined that the blame lay with County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir. Crabtree had never before considered a candidacy and admitted that “the last thing [he] expected to do was run for County Clerk.” But the anger he felt regarding his disenfranchisement, coupled with his belief that he was better suited for the job, propelled his decision to challenge DeBeauvoir when she sought reelection. Crabtree lost his first political bid, receiving 30 percent of the vote.