It's official: Lampson will challenge DeLay . . was hurt by redistricting ((Chihuahua alert)

Houston Chronicle ^ | April 27, 2005 | KRISTEN MACK

[bgsugar]

Democratic former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson filed papers with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday to challenge House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, in next year's election.

He has scheduled a Washington fund-raiser Thursday, turning an unrelated trip into a campaign kickoff.

"It truly got ahead of me," said Lampson, of Beaumont. "I wasn't ready for it to break in the way it broke. But I certainly feel like I'm the one that is far and away prepared to move forward."

Sugar Land lawyer Richard Morrison, a Democrat who lost to DeLay in November, said Monday he wouldn't try for a rematch against DeLay in the 22nd Congressional District.

Houston City Councilman Gordon Quan has said he is considering the race and is forming an exploratory committee.

Lampson served four terms in the U.S. House before his Southeast Texas district was redrawn to elect a Republican in the 2003 redistricting engineered by DeLay. Lampson represented 30 percent of what is now the 22nd District.

He considered challenging DeLay last year, but decided to run in the newly drawn 2nd District, which included his Beaumont base in Jefferson County. He lost to Republican Ted Poe, a former criminal court judge in Houston.

Lampson still lives in Beaumont, but said he will move to the 22nd District, which includes most southern suburbs of Houston.

Carl Forti, communications director at the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Lampson is going to have to work hard even to make the race competitive in the heavily Republican district.

"He's got zero chance to win. He couldn't defeat a challenger in own district, despite outspending him," Forti said. "How does he expect to beat Tom DeLay?"

Lampson said he expects he'll have to raise $5 million.

"He'll probably beat it," Lampson said of DeLay's fund-raising ability. "Tom DeLay is known for his ability to get money from people."

As of March 31, DeLay had $315,259 on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission.

DeLay continues to face scrutiny over ethical issues, fund-raising practices and overseas travel. He has denied any wrongdoing.

[bgsugar]

1) Lampson is from Beaumont and doesn't live in the district

2) He lost his seat when Texas was fairly redisticted

3 The Democratic Party in Texas is in serious financial trouble

4) The guy (Morrison) that got 41% against DeLay in the last election where the District is 41% Democratic anyway has found several personal reasons to formally announce he is not running

5) Another sniveling liberal that the Houston "Comical" will give far more ink to than he deserves.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I used to live in that district. Unless there's been a huge demographic shift, there's just no way people there would vote for someone like that...

[fortheDeclaration]

Lampson said he expects he'll have to raise $5 million.

He couldn't win with five billion.

[txroadhawg]

I live in his old district. Goodby and good riddence.