Republicans often find comfort in the suburbs. But for long-time Maryland congressman Roscoe Bartlett, having a slice of Washington, D.C. suburbia added to his district means the biggest fight of his life. He now faces a tough challenge from Democrat John Delaney, the founder of a successful commercial lender company.

Voters first elected Bartlett to Congress in 1992. He spent many years before that working as a scientist and engineer, designing life support equipment now used by the U.S. government. The congressman enjoys an eccentric reputation. Bartlett is a survivalist, meaning he prepares to live self-sufficiently in the event of widespread disaster.