Free Republic

Republican businessman Joe Straus III handily won the Texas House District 121 race Saturday over his closest challenger, Democrat Rose Spector. "It was a very strong signal that the voters in District 121 want consistent and conservative leadership," he said from his victory party at the Barn Door restaurant. Spector, a former Texas Supreme Court justice, said she had hoped to appeal to a broad swath of voters, but was unable to break through party politics in the conservative district. "He's a Republican, and that's a regret I have, that people just vote by label," she said. "I hate to...

The field for the Texas House District 121 race shrunk to three candidates Friday when Republican Glen S. Starnes withdrew from the race, although his name will remain on the ballot. "I believe that the Democrats are waging a very strong campaign, and I do not want even one vote displaced for a Republican in that district," said Starnes, a financial adviser. The election is Feb. 5; early voting runs through Tuesday. Starnes, 39, was one of two Republicans seeking the seat. The other, Joe Straus III, already has garnered key endorsements from elected area leaders, including U.S. Rep. Lamar...