Burnt Orange Report

Stenholm, Frost, Doggett Running, Turner's Out

By Byron LaMasters

The new districts are forcing several Texas Democratic Congressmen to decide their next move. Several are ready to fight it out. At this point it looks as if Charlie Stenholm, Martin Frost and Lloyd Doggett have decided to fight to continue to serve in Congress. Jim Turner, however, has decided to retire from Congress (assuming the new lines hold).

Continue for the entire story.

Charlie Stenholm looks like he'll be running for re-election (I would assume) in the new 19th district where he is paired with Randy Neugebauer.

Having a mere handful of white Democrats in the congressional delegation would be a stark contrast to 20 years ago: That year, when the Republican National Convention came to Dallas and renominated President Ronald Reagan, there were 16 white Democratic congressmen from Texas, out of 27 total members.

Several WD-40s said this week that they're not finished yet.

"Come November, I'll still be a white Democrat," said Rep. Charlie Stenholm of Abilene. "The bunch on the other side are making a better Democrat out of me every day."

You can help by contributing to the Charlie Stenholm Campaign here. Sure, Stenholm is a conservative, opposes abortion rights and votes with Republicans on a lot of issues, but he's an effective Ranking Member of the House of Agriculture Committee and votes with Democrats on leadership votes despite representing an overwhelmingly Republican distirct. I was impressed with him when he spoke to a caucus meeting which I attended at the 2002 Democratic Party Convention. He's an effective representative and west Texas will be hurt if they lose his senority and leadership in congress.

Martin Frost may not have a favorable district in which to run in anymore, but regardless, he's ready to go down with a fight:

"'If Republicans think I'm just going to disappear from the scene ... they're sadly, sadly wrong,' said the veteran congressman, first elected in 1978. 'I love a good fight,' he said, pledging to become 'some Republican's worst nightmare.'" [Fort Worth Star-Telegram Jan. 7, 2004]

Families in North Texas deserve a Member of Congress who will fight for them every day, not an extreme Republican Party hack who simply follows orders from Tom Delay.

Like most Texans, I was disappointed by the Court's ruling on congressional redistricting. It is unfair to Texans of all races. But I will not abandon families in North Texas to the partisans and extremists who forced this plan on them.

Documents initiating an appeal with the Supreme Court will be filed, and I am actively planning my re-election campaign and will announce soon the district where I will run.

I want you to know that regardless of the Supreme Court’s ruling that I will definitely be a candidate for Congress in the 2004 election. This last year has seen far too many North Texas politicians sacrifice the best interests of our community for partisan power mongers like Tom DeLay.

Under the new plan there are four districts (CD6, CD26, CD24 and CD32) which have a significant political base which I have represented for many years. In the next week will make a final decision as to where I will run. Until then, rest assured that I will not go quietly into the night.

I have represented North Texas for over 25 years and in that time have been a tireless advocate for our community. I fully intend to continue to represent North Texas families and take the fight to the partisan extremists. That is exactly what I have been elected 13 times to do and that is what I am to keep doing.

I did not start this harmful, needless and expensive battle but I do plan to finish it.

I'm not sure which district Frost is considering running in. Some Democrats in Dallas County hope that he'll run in the new 32nd district where Frost's money and turnout opperation could help the judicial and sheriff's candidates over the top. Last year, even with a gigantic Republican turnout in Dallas County, Democrats won a countywide judicial race (Sally Montgomery) for the first time in nearly a decade, and several other Democratic candidates came within a percentage point or two of winning. I think that running in the 32nd (against Pete Sessions) would be the best thing that Martin Frost could do for the Democratic Party, but I'm not sure what district is best for him. You can make a donation to the Martin Frost campaign, here.

Lloyd Doggett is aggressively campaigning to represent the new 25th district. Unlike his current 10th district which is compactly drawn in Travis County (Austin), the 25th stretches from central Austin, taking in most of the East Austin Hispanic precincts, then narrowly winding towards the boarder where it takes in McAllen in Hidalgo County. Initially State Rep. Kino Flores (D-Mission) filed for the seat, but after realizing he couldn't compete financially with Doggett, he refiled for the state house. Now, District Court Judge Leticia Hinojosa has filed for the seat and there's talk that Austin State Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos may file. The Austin Chronicle reports:

Assuming the new Austin-to-McAllen congressional District 25 survives the current redistricting trial and Department of Justice review (see p.26), jockeying for position continues in the potential race to fill the open seat. District 10 incumbent U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett is laying down border stakes, campaigning steadily in South Texas, where local politicos are torn between supporting the longtime Democratic stalwart or looking for a favorite son or daughter from the border.

State Rep. Kino Flores, D-Mission, initially declared his intention to challenge Doggett -- whom he describes as insufficiently Hispanic and too liberal for South Texas -- but last week refiled for his current seat and announced he had not been able to gather the financial support necessary for a congressional run. South Texas politicos have been looking hard for a border-based alternative to Doggett, and this week are leaning toward District Court Judge Leticia Hinojosa, who has deep roots in the Democratic Party and community activism.

[...]

Meanwhile, at our end of the district, Doggett obviously has a long record of public service -- dating back to his election to the Texas Senate in 1973. But his successor in that post, state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, is making it increasingly clear that he wants to take on Doggett if the new congressional district lines are upheld. This would revisit business left unfinished in 1994, when Doggett -- then a state Supreme Court justice -- jumped into the race to succeed retiring Jake Pickle, and -- after one furious weekend of fundraising -- effectively knocked both Barrientos and then-Mayor Bruce Todd out of the running before filing had even begun.

I'm expecting a nasty primary. Doggett will have the advantage, but if Barrientos jumps in, I wouldn't count him out. Regardless, as an incumbent, Doggett has the ability to bring in people like Patrick Kennedy and enjoy at least some support in the southern portion of the district.

Finally, Rep. Jim Turner (D-Crockett) has announced his retirement from the U.S. House:

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressman Jim Turner (D-Crockett) issued the following statement today, following the three-judge panel’s decision on Texas redistricting:

“Today in a 2 to 1 decision, the Federal Court ruled that the new Republican-drawn Texas Congressional map is constitutional and will stand. This decision will be appealed to the
U. S. Supreme Court.

“This partisan map denies the people of East and Southeast Texas the representation they deserve in Congress. The effort to elect more Republicans to Congress was achieved by dominating rural voters with a majority of suburban and urban voters in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth. These new lines divide the current 2nd Congressional District into 6 different districts, and I have no realistic opportunity to seek reelection to Congress.

“The divisiveness of this redistricting effort has not been good for Texas. As Judge Ward stated in his dissenting opinion, ‘…extreme partisan gerrymandering leads to a system in which representatives choose their constituents rather than vice versa.’

“I will continue to work for the people of East Texas for the remaining year of my term and devote my energies to the important issues of homeland security, job growth, strengthening the economy and providing quality health care, as I have since my first day in office. It has always been an honor to serve the people of East Texas. It is my hope that I will have other opportunities to serve my state in the future.”

It's a shame. Turner would probably like to run for Governor or Lt. Governor in 2006 and he'd be a good candidate. I wish him the best of luck.

Update: Charles Kuffner has more on Political State Report