Latest wire news
Nov. 5, 2008 – 1:10 a.m.
111th House Freshmen: Pete Olson, R-Texas (22)
Election: Defeated Rep. Nick Lampson , D
Residence: Sugar Land
Born: Dec. 9, 1962; Fort Lewis, Wash.
Religion: United Methodist
Family: Wife, Nancy Olson; two children
Education: Rice U., B.A. 1985 (computer science); U. of Texas, J.D. 1988
Military: Navy, 1988-98
Career: Congressional aide; Navy Senate liaison
Political highlights: No previous office
Olson will likely be a reliable vote for conservative Republican policies. He favors lower taxes and offshore oil drilling and opposes abortion rights and liberal immigration policies. Olson plans to follow the tradition of his former bosses, Texas Sens. Phil Gramm (1985-2002) and John Cornyn , for whom he worked as an aide. Olson’s natural specialty is defense policy, which he learned from both the military and political sides of the debate as an aide to the senators. He will be seeking a seat on the Armed Services Committee. His Capitol Hill experience caused him trouble in the campaign with opponents who criticized his 2007 return to the district and his Washington affiliations, but his knowledge of Congress should let him start much faster than other freshmen. “I will bring budgetary, appropriations and policy experience — as well as a national security background,” he says in a written response to questions.
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It turns out Rep. Nick Lampson’s (D-TX 22) ‘06 win was a fluke. Sen. Cornyn ex-aide Pete Olson (R) defeated Lampson 52-45% in a CD that’s heavily GOP. It was always going to be an uphill climb for the Dem to keep the seat, and Olson’s primary win — where he defeated the erratic ex-Rep. Shelley Sekula Gibbs (R) — made Lampson’s climb that much tougher. A win by Sekula Gibbs may have handed Lampson another freebee. Meanwhile, in two other areas where GOPers were thought to be in some bit of trouble, Reps. John Culberson (R-TX 07) and Michael McCaul (R-TX 10) enjoyed comfortable wins.
TAB
Bad luck again Nick...we redistricted you out in '04 and those dern Republicans just keep haunting you...
Bet Ted Poe had a laugh tonight on this one. He has repaid us time and time again as a fabulous congressman and we are so proud he has handily just won his 3RD term!
I wish Poe and his friend Jindal would get more into the national stage. They are so awesome.