Posted on 06/03/2010 6:02:13 AM PDT by Kaslin
For the past 19 years, Texas’ 17th Congressional District has been held by Democrat Chet Edwards who, despite several close elections in recent years, has managed to maintain his grip on this culturally conservative district. This fall, Edwards may be in for one of his toughest fights as he faces off against Republican businessman Bill Flores.
The 17th is the most conservative district held by any Democrat Member of the House. Stretching south from Hood and Johnson counties, the district covers the population centers of Cleburne, Waco and College Station, and has been Republican territory for years. Political handicapper Charlie Cook rates the district as R+20, and both John McCain and George W. Bush carried the seat during their presidential races. Given that Edwards was only able to best his 2008 opponent 53-46% with Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, this year’s election poses a major electoral challenge for the incumbent.
>As evidence that his record in Washington is starting to catch up with him, a recent poll had Edwards trailing Bill Flores by twelve points. Undermining the moderate tone that Edwards uses in an attempt to fool his constituents is the fact that he supports House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her liberal agenda nearly 97 percent of the time. He has blindly followed her lead, casting his vote in support of the failed $787 billion stimulus, bloated-excuse for a federal budget and the hat-tip to unions known as card check. Edwards is so entrenched in the Democrat leadership that Nancy Pelosi even touted him as her choice as a possible nominee for Vice President in 2008.
For years, Republican Bill Flores has demonstrated that he is a dedicated member of the community. He and his wife have worked hard to raise and contribute money to educational scholarships throughout Texas, as well as supporting community-based programs to help our returning veterans. Having also created over 500 American jobs during his successful business career, Bill has shown that he can lend a valuable opinion to the debate on how to stimulate the economy.
This fall, voters in TX-17 have a clear choice: more of the same Pelosi-pandering or a fresh voice to represent their interests in Washington. Chet Edwards has worn out his welcome in the district by consistently putting his party’s liberal agenda before the best interests of his constituents. Republicans have a prime opportunity to take this seat back in November and peel yet another vote away from Nancy Pelosi.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to learn more about Bill on his website, and become a fan on Twitter and Facebook to stay up-to-date with the latest news on this race.
TX voters ping.
This is very encouraging.
Now—we need some help in my district—I’m in cong district 25—and our congressman is a guy by the name of Lloyd Doggett—yikes!
We’re probably a lost cause though, because most of dist.25 is in Austin............
Texas bump!
A poll on the Flores website says he is up, significantly.
Hopefully this is bye bye Chet.
Wow, folks, you really ought to check out Flores’ website and resume. This guy is impressive, and conservative. On paper, he appears to be the ideal candidate....GO TEXAS!
Would that also include CRAWFORD?
Edwards was my congressfreak for many years until the blessed redistricting, when he had to inflict himself upon some new, unsuspecting counties. (Thank GOD I have John Carter now!)
I was both appalled and amused during the 2008 campaign when his Dem constituents were solidly behind Hillary...and Edwards proudly endorsed then-Senator Jugears. Way to represent your peeps, Chet!
Thanks and I do understand that, however there are aggies from Waco to College Station and if he were not one of them he would have been beaten before now. The district went 70% for Bush in 2004 and 67% for McCain.
Arizona is the new Texas, I have no respect for Texas anymore, like Bush, from Texas, they are welcoming the invasion with open arms, the truth hurts, I know ....
Actually, we are not welcoming the invasion at all. We are particularly displeased with all the liberals from California that are moving in. They are a bigger threat than the illegals, in my opinion. We are guarding the wrong border.
I’m an Aggie but I would never of voted for Edwards simply because he went to Texas A & M.
We need a major registration/turnout effort in the southern part of his district if we want to kick his sorry butt out.
How're those nice Somalis workin' out for ya ?
Texans don’t have respect for people who make ignorant comments about us.
Most Texans are certainly not welcoming illegal immigrants “with open arms” despite what some enclaves of liberals in our largest cities advocate.
We’re cleaning house down here. We stopped Dallas darling Kay Bailout Hutchison from having a shot at being Governor, and Chet will be the next to go.
I voted for Bill Flores in the GOP primary, and I’ll vote for him again in the general.
Funny thing about blue dogs. Give ‘em a bath and it reveals the yellow dog Democrat underneath.
So long, Chet.
- JP
Well, I hope you’re right, I just don’t understand why Texas hasn’t jumped on board with AZ
Yep, especially for someone who tows the pig lousy line almost 100% of the time.
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