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HOUSTON (CBS HOUSTON) – A white Republican unseated a 24-year African-American incumbent from office in a surprise election victory that some are saying was racially tinged and deceptive. Dave Wilson, who KHOU reports is an “anti-gay activist and former fringe candidate for mayor,” is being criticized by his opposition for his campaign that reportedly lead the overwhelmingly African-American, Democratic district to believe he was black.

The surprise winner of a Texas election has been criticized for misleading the mainly black constituents into believing he was African American. Dave Wilson, a white Republican and anti-gay activist, beat Houston's 24-year incumbent Bruce Austin in what has been described as a 'racially tinged campaign'. Mr Wilson won with a margin of 26 after he campaigned using flyers featuring African Americans and the message 'Vote for our neighbor Dave Wilson'. 'I'd always said it was a long shot. I didn't expect to win,' the former fringe candidate told KHOU. His flyers, designed using pictures he had found on the...

Dave Wilson chuckles as he talks about his unorthodox political campaign. "I'd always said it was a long shot," Wilson says. "No, I didn't expect to win." Still, he figured he'd have fun running, because he was fed up with what he called "all the shenanigans" at the Houston Community College System. As a conservative white Republican running in a district whose voters are overwhelmingly black Democrats, the odds seemed overwhelmingly against him. Then he came up with an idea, an advertising strategy that his opponent found "disgusting." If a white guy didn't have a chance in a mostly African-American...

Here’s a candidate who turned identity politics on its head while managing to break every politically correct rule about politics in the process.KHOU: Dave Wilson chuckles as he talks about his unorthodox political campaign.“I’d always said it was a long shot,” Wilson says. “No, I didn’t expect to win.”Still, he figured he’d have fun running, because he was fed up with what he called “all the shenanigans” at the Houston Community College System. As a conservative white Republican running in a district whose voters are overwhelmingly black Democrats, the odds seemed overwhelmingly against him.Then he came up with an...

Demos oust members who supported GOP BY JIM VERTUNO Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - The Texas primary election took its toll on state House Democrats who had aligned with the Republican leadership during the bitter partisan fights last year. Seven House Democrats, including longtime maverick lawmaker Rep. Ron Wilson of Houston, were defeated or headed for runoffs. Five had supported GOP-backed legislation and Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick. "I'm tickled pink," said Texas Democratic Party Chairman Charles Soechting. "I don't describe it as a purge. I describe it as a realignment of priorities." Wilson was the biggest name to fall....

State denies redistricting map drawn to harm minority blocs AUSTIN (AP) — Attorneys for the state defended a congressional district map in a federal courtroom Thursday, attempting to disprove plaintiffs' arguments that the new lines were drawn with racially discriminatory intent, violating the Voting Rights Act. Attorney Andy Taylor questioned a map drawer about the intent with which each of the 32 districts was created by the Texas Legislature. "I'm not aware of splits made to break up minority blocks," said Bill Davis, a former Republican state legislator and lobbyist who testified as the state began its case in the...