WITH ALL THE sound bites and fury of the U.S. Senate campaign, voters can be forgiven if they have hardly noticed that elections for the U.S. House are near. As has become traditional, there’s been little effort expended by the major parties to challenge each other’s incumbents.

Vigorous competition is good for those who would hold office, and for the voters. It refreshes people’s views of the candidates and shows how they would approach the new challenges of their positions. It’s a deficiency of the two major parties that they do so little to challenge one another’s strengths.

None of this is meant as criticism of the two members of Congress from the Midlands. Both Jim Clyburn and Joe Wilson represent their districts well and deserve re-election.

Rep. Clyburn is a passionate advocate to improve the lives of those in the 6th District, which stretches from Columbia east into the Pee Dee. This area badly needs the infrastructure growth that he seeks through his post on the House Appropriations Committee. While not every project he backs deserves praise, his overall effort certainly puts his constituents first.

He’s also a strong voice for preserving South Carolina’s history and encouraging historic tourism.

Rep. Wilson holds two posts on committees with topics dear to South Carolina: Armed Services and Education. These appointments reflect well on his standing on Capitol Hill, for such a junior member.

He has been an avid supporter of the military, which is hardly surprising, given his long Guard service. He has traveled to Iraq and to other states involved in the war on terror for a firsthand look at the situation. He also got an unusual chance to engage in a diplomatic visit to North Korea, a country that should draw even greater interest than it does in Washington.

Both men deserve re-election on Nov. 2.