Burnt Orange Report

Glen Lewis to Join the GOP?

By Byron LaMasters

Not yet, but he's been invited.

State Rep. Glenn Lewis, a lifelong Fort Worth Democrat who was beaten in the March 9 primary by first-time candidate Marc Veasey, has been approached by Republican leaders who want him to jump to the GOP.

Lewis, whom Veasey accused of being too friendly with powerful Republicans, said he will not move to the GOP "at this point." But he did not rule out doing so later if there are not dramatic changes in the local and state leadership of the Democratic Party.

Lewis, who is black and a lawyer, said there are too many "Anglo lawyers" making the decisions for Texas Democrats. But it's black and Hispanic voters who keep the party afloat, he contended.

The nine-year House member said that since his defeat he has received calls from Republicans including Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Rep. Joe Barton, local GOP Chairwoman Pat Carlson and Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, one of the highest-ranking African-Americans in state government. Lewis said he has also been contacted by "some of my Democratic colleagues in the House."

Sounds like sour grapes to me. Lewis signed on as an early Craddick supporter and waffled on redistricting (before ultimately voting against it), and his choices had consequences. Lewis won a committee chairmanship, but he also lost renomination.