Free Republic

AUSTIN — Two losing Texas House Republican candidates, including House Speaker Tom Craddick's most powerful lieutenant, sought Wednesday to have the GOP-controlled House overturn their races' results or order new elections. Also Wednesday, one-term Rep. Ken Mercer of San Antonio decided against contesting his 498-vote loss to Democratic challenger David Leibowitz in a bitterly contested District 117 race. As expected, Talmadge Heflin of Houston and Eric Opiela of Karnes City filed documents Wednesday with the secretary of state's office formally contesting the results of their races. History is not on their side: In the 10 times since 1942 that such...

AUSTIN — Up to three defeated Republican legislative candidates soon could ask the GOP-majority Texas House to declare them the legitimate victors because they claim the Nov. 2 outcomes likely were tinged by fraud. But an election-law expert who often consults Democratic candidates discounted the likelihood of the contests Monday, which he described as both rare and futile. Austin lawyer Buck Wood predicted no candidate ultimately will attempt a contest. "It's a waste of their time," Wood said. "If you get real lucky, you might get a new election, at which point you get your ass plastered." If the candidates...