Posted on 08/02/2004 12:33:02 PM PDT by Redbob
WASHINGTON — Redistricting in Texas has left some Democrats with the odds stacked against them as they search for a political home.
In Democrat Rep. Nick Lampson’s (search) case, his hometown of Beaumont is still in his district, but so are over 300,000 new voters, leaving him with the task of selling himself for the first time since he was elected in 1996.
"It’s not that I have no connection at all — I’ve been a Houston-area member of Congress for these four terms," Lampson told FOXNews.com.
"I think I have proved my independence and have shown that I am effective," he said, conceding there was much to do. "I need to make an effort to get around and make sure people know me as a member of Congress and not just as a candidate."
Under the 2002 redistricting, Lampson keeps his home of Jefferson County, south of Houston on the Texas Gulf Coast, which accounts for about half of the 650,000 voters in the new 2nd District. The other half hails from the more Republican Harris and Liberty counties.
Since a tough election campaign in 1996, Lampson, a former teacher and businessman, had relatively easy re-elections. While he has gotten pretty low scores from conservative groups, some would agree he is far from liberal. He is pro-life and has voted with conservatives on key abortion (search) and social issues. But he also has strong backing from labor, and has stuck with the party in voting against some of President Bush's initiatives, like tax cuts and drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (search).
"This is one of our best challenger opportunities in the country," said Bo Harmon, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Campaign (search).
This race has been called a "toss up" by election analysts, as the Republican-dominated district has attracted a formidable GOP candidate in Ted Poe (search), who recently resigned his 20-year post as an elected Harris County felony court judge in order to run for congressional office.
A tough advocate of "creative sentencing," Poe has reached national audiences after some of his cases became legend — like the wife batterer who was sentenced to apologize publicly on the steps of Houston City Hall for his crime, or the convicted thieves who were forced to carry signs declaring their crimes in front of the stores from which they stole.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I strongly advise following the link to read more about Poe, who seems like a very strong opponent to Lampson.
I'd really like to have seen Steve Stockman make a comeback.
I see this a a win and really win. Lampson is a dem but has voted conservative on many occasions. Ted Poe is a crooks nightmare. He has put more people on death role in this state then Judge Roy Bean. I have more then once heard him called Hang em high til they die Ted. I hope he wins
That sounds great!
No matter how conservative Lampson may appear, he still sits on the wrong side of the aisle, and votes like they tell him when the chips are down.
This race has been called a "toss up" by election analysts, as the Republican-dominated district has attracted a formidable GOP candidate in Ted Poe (search), who recently resigned his 20-year post as an elected Harris County felony court judge in order to run for congressional office.
he doesn't even appear conservative from where i sit....Lampson never had an original idea in his life. Goes along to get along....a career dumbocrat....if his district had be a majority republican district that's the party he would have been originaly.....
I think things in Washington will look a lot different after November!
Any guesses? 22 or 23 GOP representatives from Texas?
Beaumont "...south of Houston..."???
Beaumont is northeast of Houston.
Maybe the writer meant "closer to the water?"
"Closer to New Orleans?"
(All I know about Beaumont is that my mother was born there.)
"Any guesses? 22 or 23 GOP representatives from Texas?"
"Not sure of the 'toss up' designation as this revised district has voted GOP by some 60%+ in the 2000 and 2002 statewide races... Thus Lampson has his work cut out for him to make it competitive imo."
Unfortunately Steve isn't likely to run again (I asked him.) But we have Tom DeLay and Ron Paul to replace Lampson in this area. A fair trade I would say. :) Go Poe!
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