Synar’s Defeat Is Wake-Up Call for Democrats : House: Party incumbents fear reelection prospects. Even Foley is no sure bet. Leadership may push Congress to adjourn early to hit campaign trail.

The defeat of liberal Rep. Mike Synar (D-Okla.) in a primary contest Tuesday served as a “wake-up call” for many Democratic incumbents and may push a nervous Congress into adjourning earlier than expected so members will have more time to campaign for the November elections.

Already facing the prospect of losing 20 to 25 seats in the House, Democrats said they feared the toll may be higher if Synar’s defeat signaled widespread voter unrest.

“It shows the vulnerability of national Democrats in rural areas in the South and West,” said Rep. Charles Wilson (D-Tex.). “Maybe it’ll be a wake-up call for us.”

Synar, who chaired the Democratic Study Group and was regarded as one of the most effective members of the House, lost a runoff to Virgil Cooper, a retired school principal and a political neophyte. Cooper captured 51% of the vote with a low-budget effort and will face Republican nominee Tom Coburn in November.

Even House Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.), who polled far fewer votes than usual in a Washington state primary, could be endangered because Republicans have targeted him this fall--hoping his defeat would provide a symbolic victory even if the GOP fails to win enough seats to control the House.

George Nethercutt, a Spokane, Wash., attorney, won the Republican nomination to oppose Foley. He was immediately promised financial backing from the national party in his bid to oust the Speaker, a 30-year House veteran.

“I intend to wage a vigorous campaign,” Foley told reporters after he received only 35% of the vote in an open primary. Four Republicans divided the rest of the vote. “I come from a district where I can’t and don’t take anything for granted in elections.”

Two other Democrats in Washington state--Reps. Jay Inslee and Mike Kreidler--won renomination but polled fewer votes than their Republican opponents, indicating a tough race ahead in November.

Foley noted, however, that only three Democratic House incumbents have been defeated in primary elections this year: Synar, Rep. Craig Washington of Texas and Rep. Lucien E. Blackwell of Pennsylvania. A fourth House member, Republican David A. Levy of New York, is awaiting a recount to see whether he lost the GOP nomination last week.

While some Democratic leaders insisted that the outcome of Synar’s race reflected local conditions and his tendency to defy the wishes of his conservative constituents on issues such as gun control and grazing fees, many rank-and-file House members were shaken by the results.

“It blew me away,” said freshman Rep. Dan Hamburg (D-Ukiah). “He was one of the best members of the House.”

Rep. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) called Synar’s defeat “a major blow to the (Democratic) caucus and a major wake-up call . . . it sends a message that we had better redouble our efforts, including those of us in supposedly safe seats.”

As a result, pressure is mounting on the Democratic leadership to wrap up legislative work for the year and allow more time for campaigning. Last week, Foley was talking about adjourning in mid-October, but Wednesday he said the target date was still Oct. 7--a little more than two weeks away.

“I’m for Oct. 7,” Richardson said. “A lot of us favor an earlier date.”

Rep. Vic Fazio (D-West Sacramento) said the Synar defeat should not be overblown. He noted that the Oklahoma incumbent won just 51% of the vote in 1992 and this year was opposed by almost every special interest group, as well as by Christian fundamentalists and supporters of term limits.

“Mike’s situation is unique,” Fazio said. “I don’t read any major national message into this--the same thing almost happened two years ago.”

Fazio, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has estimated that his party may lose 15 to 25 seats in the House this year, in part because of redistricting after the 1990 elections and in part because of historical trends in off-year elections.

Democrats now hold a 256-178 advantage over Republicans.