The Dems Who Fled

National Review Online ^ | May 27, 2003 | David Guenthner

[justlurking]

No way! Hobson ran as a conservative. He did not get 100% of the vote. (Even if no R ran against him, a Libertarian would have received at least 20-25% from folks that won't vote for a donkey.)

The source that I used is the "Election Analysis" page near the bottom of each House member's web page. In Hopson's case, it's http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/par_rpts/current/house/dist11/r8.htm.

This data itemizes only the votes for the two major parties. It does not include the third party votes. But, you bring up an interesting point that may make more of the races competitive, if the Republicans were to recruit good candidates.

I think you have a great idea for a commercial that would work throughout the state: they didn't show up for work, and should get fired -- just like the rest of us would have been fired.

[deport]

http://204.65.104.19/elchist.exe

Hopson had no oponent... He got 100% of the vote that was cast in the District 11 race.... The above site list 3rd parties where they were in a race.

[rhinohunter]

Chuck Hopson, Jacksonville 0.0% 100.0%"

This was to be a SAFE REPUBLICAN district. However, just weeks after the primary in 2002, the Republican nominee suddenly dropped out of the race!!!!

His reasoning was that the city of Jacksonville needed him. (He is the mayor).

[jackbill]

Thanks for the info. This is what I was basing my comment on - CNN's Inside Politics of 5/15. (Lavandera is a CNN reporter)

LAVANDERA: Now, there are a little over 50 Democrats who have left the state to fight this redistricting bill that we've been talking so much about over the last couple days. But not all of the Democrats in the State House here in Texas left the state. There are about seven that are still left behind. Most of those Democrats are African-American representatives here in the state, and they were in favor of this redistricting bill, Judy, because it would have created an extra seat in Congress in an African-American district. One of the representatives we speak with today, Ron Wilson a Democrat of Houston, says that the Democrats in Oklahoma better hope that their chairs are still on the House floor when they return.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Do you think there is going to be retribution for them? Are they going to have problems when they come back? There's still time left in the session.

RON WILSON (D), TEXAS STATE HOUSE: There's a long time left. I'm not going to say...

LAVANDERA: Don't by shy.

WILSON: I'm not say there's going to be retribution, but there's going to be a natural, I think, tension. I think if they come back and assume that everything's going to be hunky dory, I think they're mistaken.

[No Truce With Kings]

"However, just weeks after the primary in 2002, the Republican nominee suddenly dropped out of the race!!!!"

Wonder what Hobson paid him?