Chron: Three Democratic Pickups Could Mean New Speaker

by: Cody Yocom

Mon Oct 30, 2006 at 09:21 AM CST

So to those of you that are still whiny because we aren’t going to take back the House or Senate in Texas, here’s a reason to get off your behind.  Getting Craddick out of his newly reappointed Speaker’s Chambers is reason enough for me to go vote.  Oh…it might be a little empowering for the Democrats, as well. 

Here’s the article in the Chronicle article Update on the Update: The link is back up and running.

Texas Democrats have no hopes of regaining control of the state House, but some are optimistic about winning enough seats in the upcoming election to trigger a Republican challenge of House Speaker Tom Craddick.

Democrats need to pick off only three or four Republican House members to leave Craddick, a Republican from Midland, vulnerable to a challenge from his own party, they say. Craddick's firm leadership style — described by some as autocratic — has created an undercurrent of discontent, and Republican losses of House seats in the Nov. 7 election could inspire a revolt, said House Mexican American Caucus Chairman Pete Gallego, D-Alpine.