Posted on 01/16/2004 2:22:11 PM PST by BushisTheMan
Veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Martin Frost will announce plans today to challenge Republican incumbent Rep. Pete Sessions in a bid to preserve his congressional career.
Frost's current district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area was dismantled by GOP map-drawers earlier this year who were looking to put more Republican Texans in Congress.
A Democratic strategist confirmed reports, on condition of anonymity, that Frost will file to run in Congressional District 32. Reports were first published Thursday in The Dallas Morning News.
The district encompasses part of north and west Dallas, the largely Hispanic neighborhoods of North Oak Cliff and part of the heavily Republican Park Cities. Frost has traditionally been popular among Hispanic and black voters.
Observers say it will be an uphill climb for a Democrat, but, with a strong campaign, Frost could do well.
Congressional District 32 was "obviously drawn to be Republican, but it is a district in which a well-funded Democrat could do very well because of the way it's drawn," said Russell Langley, executive director of the Dallas County Democratic Party.
Langley said driving up the vote in those minority populations of west Dallas and North Oak Cliff would be key to a Frost victory.
"It would be a very hard-fought campaign but a Democrat might be able to succeed," he said.
Sessions would not comment on the reports, saying he would address the issue when Frost makes his announcement. A Frost spokesman said an announcement would be made at 2 p.m. today in Dallas.
The filing period ends today.
Meanwhile, Democrat attorneys who oppose the GOP-drawn map have asked the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay, which would halt the new map from being used, pending their appeal. The state filed its response to the request on Wednesday and a decision from the high court is expected this week.
The Republican-controlled Legislature approved new districts during a special session in October after months of partisan bickering and two out-of-state walkouts by Democrats. The new boundaries could give the GOP as many as 22 seats in the state's 32-member congressional delegation.
He said Frost will be lucky to get 40% in the new district.
Frost has been an embarrassment to Texas for many years. I'm hoping that his words in defense of the filth and corruption of Willie's perjury will come back to haunt him.
The Dallas Morning News report ...
Frost vows to defeat Sessions03:57 PM CST on Friday, January 16, 2004
Democratic Congressman Martin Frost vowed to defeat incumbent Republican congressman Pete Sessions after announcing for Sessions' 32nd District seat.
"I do not intend to abandon the people of North Texas," Mr. Frost, the 13-term congressman said in announcing his intentions at Union Station in downtown Dallas this afternoon. "This will be a tough, hard-fought race, but I believe we are going to win.
"I'm a fighter. I refuse to accept no for answer."
Mr. Frost, whose current 24th District was sliced up into many parts under the new redistrict plan, chose to run against Mr. Sessions in one of only two districts wholly contained within Dallas County. The district stretches from North Oak Cliff, taking in West Dallas, parts of Grand Prairie and Irving and winds through northwest and North Dallas. It also includes the Republican-friendly Park Cities.
Mr. Sessions was scheduled to meet with the media later this afternoon and issued a press release welcoming Mr. Frost into the race and blasting his record.
"The choice between Frost and myself is simple and dramatic. Do the people of Dallas County want the Martin Frost tax-and-spend vision for America, which depends on class warfare and national labor unions for its survival?" Mr. Sessions said.
"Or do they want a positive, conservative vision for our future based on opportunity and personal responsibility, like the one that President Bush has outlined for our country?"
Mr. Frost, who currently lives in Arlington, said that he will move back to Oak Cliff, where he has a condominium.
He said he's confident of his chances in the 32nd District because of the its large minority population.
Mr. Frost cited his votes for the war in Iraq, support of the death penalty, support of President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act and strong national military and homeland defense credentials as things that would appeal that appeal to the district's more conservative voters.
"When the president is right, I will support him," Mr. Frost said.
He said his opponent, Mr. Sessions, is out of the political mainstream in Dallas.
In the decision process to run in the 32nd, Mr. Frost said that he considered his long-term ties to the district as opposed to the others he was considering.
Mr. Frost said he expects to announce having $700,000 in his campaign war chest when Congressional financial reports are filed at the end of the month.
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/newthishour/stories/011704dnmetfrost.20d7b03d.html
And Arlington, TX, will be a better place now for it.
haha ! Yeah, really !
For anyone reading this thread who might NOT have seen this, the request for a stay was DENIED earlier today. The SC might consider it later, but the new districts stand as drawn for the 2004 election.
... and poor Oak Cliff ! Having to put up with him now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
