WASHINGTON, OCT 11- Representatives Tim Holden and Paul E. Kanjorski, both Democrats, are friends and often travel together to their adjoining districts in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Next year, those districts will probably not exist, and the congressmen's trips will be intended to put each other out of work.
The two Democrats are among eight pairs of House incumbents who are likely to face each other in primaries in 2002 because of redistricting.
The Holden-Kanjorski matchup is the probable outcome of a redistricting plan drawn by the Pennsylvania Legislature, which is controlled by Republicans.
Pennsylvania lost two seats in Congress because of stagnant population growth. A race between two other Democratic representatives, Robert A. Borski and Joseph M. Hoeffel, in the Philadelphia area is also likely. The Legislature is expected to approve the final plan this year.
Mr. Kanjorski is resigned to making the best of a bad situation.
"We have talked a lot about it," he said, "but have vowed not to become enemies even if we are opponents. But I am going to run and win."
Mr. Holden said he was "withholding speculation and comment until the final draft is approved, though running against a fellow Democrat is not my first choice."
Primary matchups between incumbents are also likely in Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Oklahoma. In Georgia, Indiana and Ohio the contests would involve Republicans, while the races in Oklahoma and Michigan would be between Democrats.
In 1992, after the last redistricting, there were nine House contests between incumbents, including four in primaries.
Spokesmen for both national parties said they would not take sides in such primaries.
Neither party relishes the idea of bruising primaries that could damage incumbents in a year when both parties believe they can win a majority in the House. Republicans now hold a nine-seat majority.
Except in Georgia, the primaries in which House members would face each other would be in states losing seats. In Georgia, which is gaining two seats because of population growth, the Democrats, who control the Legislature, redrew the lines to try to reduce the Republicans' eight- to-three advantage in the Congressional delegation.
As a result, Representatives Bob Barr and John Linder, both Republicans, are expected to compete in a suburban Atlanta district.
The outcomes of races involving incumbents are hard to predict, even if the composition of the new district strongly favors one of the candidates, said Amy Walter, who follows House races for the Cook Political Report, a Washington newsletter.
"Geography is important," Ms. Walter said, "but a lot of it depends on the mood the voters are in and what is going on in the country. During a national security crisis, one with a strong military background might have an advantage even though he does not represent a majority of the new district."
Representative Dale E. Kildee, a Michigan Democrat, said the prospect of facing fellow Representative James A. Barcia, also Democrat, next year would put "a certain strain" on the election. But that is part of politics, he said.
"No one owns the job," Mr. Kildee said. "We have to fight for it every two years, and this is another race to keep my seat, though one that happens to be against a colleague." | 
