On July 24, I wrote about the Texas Congressional races in West Texas. Tonight, I'm covering the North. TX-3, TX-4, TX-13, and TX-19. The Panhandle and surrounding districts are pretty red, but we have some great races shaping up, and need to find people willing to take on a challenge.
Two of the four districts have Democratic challengers. The other two...not so much. The north is the north, of course, of course. And who ever heard of a Liberal North? Make the jump to see who...
TX-3 claims Plano as its cultural hub. While it's an outlying section of Dallas, I am including it in the North (mainly because I want to). Sam Johnson is the Republican incumbent, but speculation is that he won't run again since he's a bit long in the tooth (78 in '08). The vultures are circling in the Republican party. Former Plano mayor and current Texas Senator Florence Shapiro is a potential candidate, as is CradDICK challenger, Representative Brian McCall. Either will be a formidable candidate in the district which carried Bush by 66.8%. But, look at that percentage again, and remember that Dallas County flipped blue in the 2006 cycle. It's not impossible. In fact, if they build on the momentum, the Democrats can take this. However, they need a candidate.
The Wiki Race Tracker currently lists 2006 candidate Dan Dodd as a potential challenger. However, his website has not been updated, and no one else is stepping up. I am wishing Dallas and Collin County Democratic parties luck in their searches for a candidate.
TX-4 is just flat-out exciting. The current incumbent is Ralph Hall. The district carried Bush by 70.4%, but Ralph had a challenger in 06—Glenn Melançon. Glenn performed admirably in 2006, pulling in 33.44% of the vote.
Glenn Melançon is running again in 2008.
The Republican side of the fence is a hairball of a primary. Ralph Hall, Kathi Seei (former Mayor of Frisco), Gene Christensen (a NASCAR owner), and Kevin George are all running; and I hope they run the vaunted negative Republican campaigns against each other. Pull each other to pieces, and let the district see how good they could have it if Glenn were the new Representative in town.
Donate to Glenn
Glenn is a contributor here, too!
TX-13 has Mac Thornberry for its representative. The district carried Bush by 77.8%, but Roger Waun ran anyway in 2006 and pulled in 23.01%. Roger Waun isn't giving up, either. The Presbyterian Pastor and Fighting Dem is in the race for 2008, and you can Donate to Roger through ActBlue.
Finally, TX-19. What a freaky looking district. It looks like a Tetris piece, and it carried Bush by 77.5% in 2004. Robert Ricketts challenged Republican incumbent Randy Neugebauer in 2006, and came away with 29.76%. And he was a first-time candidate. There is currently no word as to whether Robert will run again in 2008. Surely someone in Lubbock, Big Spring, or Abilene might think it's a fight worth fighting. Hell, in the 27 counties encompassed, there ought to be some folks who might be interested.
My own secret wish would be for former Speaker Pete Laney to stand up, but I know he's focused on training college kids how to become involved in the political process. Good for him. Got any ready to run yet, sir?
Next up will be South Texas. Tune in for TX-14, TX-15, TX-27, and TX-28.