Land Developer (R) Wins Texas Congress Seat (TX-19)

The Associated Press ^ | 6/4/03

[LdSentinal]

LUBBOCK, Texas - A land developer defeated an accountant who used to be President Bush's business partner in a tight Republican runoff Tuesday to succeed retired Rep. Larry Combest .

With all but one of the West Texas congressional district's 207 precincts reporting unofficial returns, Randy Neugebauer had 28,530 votes to Mike Conaway's 27,858 votes. The one unreported precinct was in a county where Neugebauer led by a 2-to-1 margin.

Neugebauer and Conaway, both Republicans, emerged from a field of 17 candidates in a special election last month.

They were in a runoff to see who will replace Combest, who retired at the end of May. Combest had announced his retirement shortly after winning re-election in November. He served the district for 18 years.

Neugebauer will finish the unexpired term and be sworn in Thursday in Washington.

Ector County officials had to bring in a generator to continue counting votes after a severe storm accompanied by straight-line winds up to 70 mph knocked out power in the clerk's office, officials said.

[Kay]

What was the reason that the congressman ran for office last year if he was going to retire within a few months? Was he a Democrat? I don't get it.

[Paleo Conservative]

Considering how small the Republican marin is in the House, there was probably lots of pressure to run again. I'm sure that if Republicans make some healthy gains in 2004, there will be several older Republican Congressman who decide to retire in 2006.

[LdSentinal]

No, the guy who retired, Combest, is a Republican congressman. If he did retire before the mid-term elections, this seat would still go Republican as it's one of the most Republican in Texas.

Apart from his official reason to retire, I don't know why he planned to retire until after the mid-term elections.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*
Somewhat disappointing, as I was supporting Mr. Conaway.

[caltrop]

I don't know anything about either one of them. Why did you favor Conaway?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Sometimes I have a soft spot for the underdog, as Conaway definitely was. Neugebauer is a real estate developer, and I have not usually a soft spot for them. Conaway is an accountant. Which of those would you rather send to Washington ?

[AuH2ORepublican]

If the Texas legislature finally approves redistricting, Conaway can try again from a district centered around Midland that doesn't include Lubbock. Conaway could be the Republican to finally slay Charles Stenholm (if Stenholm chooses to run in the new district).

[Impy]

Me too.

I figured that since he came from the oil/gas part of the district he'd be less inclined to support farm pork.