Four Republicans are winding down a House District 24 primary campaign this weekend, setting the stage for a Tuesday primary that is expected to trigger a whirlwind, two-week runoff campaign by the top two finishers.

It's the opening round in a high-profile race with plenty of political bragging rights on the line: Continued Republican dominance in the district or Democratic resurgence.

For House 24 voters, it's the first real contest in decades. David Wilkins, who was House speaker when he resigned June 2 to become U.S. ambassador to Canada, had held the seat for 25 years and had only rarely faced serious opposition.

A quartet of Republican lawyers -- Bruce Bannister, Tom Ervin, William Herlong and Warren Mowry -- has been knocking on doors, pounding in yard signs and telephoning voters for weeks while volunteers stuffed envelopes with slick campaign mailings.