Southwest
Roll Call Staff
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Wind energy executive Michael Skelly is trying to position himself as a conservative Democrat, and he is making this a race to watch by the sheer force of his personal bank account and fundraising prowess. For all of this he deserves a lot of credit and earns a race rating of “Likely” rather than “Safe.”
But this suburban Houston district is strong Republican territory, and Culberson hasn’t done anything to sever his solid relationship with grass-roots GOP voters.
Particularly in a presidential year, the partisan nature of the district is unlikely to produce the number of crossover voters that Skelly needs for a victory.
22nd district
Incumbent: Nick Lampson (D)
1st term (52 percent; previously served four terms in a
neighboring district)
Outlook: Tossup
The strong Republican lean of the 22nd district and Lampson’s victory over a write-in candidate in 2006 made his seat a top GOP target from Day One.
Since former Senate aide Pete Olson won the GOP primary, Republicans have been bullish on their chances of flipping the seat of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R) back into their column. And considering Lampson’s relatively Democratic voting record on key issues, Olson is well-positioned for victory, even before the presidential race is figured in.
But Lampson might have caught a break with Hurricane Ike, which devastated much of greater Houston in mid-September.
The storm and its aftermath forced Olson to suspend his campaign and only subtly re-engage politically toward the end of September. Meanwhile, Lampson was able to show leadership and rise above politics by helping those in need.
In helping his suburban Houston district recover from Ike, Lampson is potentially giving conservatives and partisan Republicans a reason to put aside the fact that they disagree with him on most issues, creating a desire on their part to vote for a Democrat.
23rd district
Incumbent: Ciro Rodriguez (D)
1st term (54 percent; previously served four terms in a
neighboring district)
Outlook: Likely Democratic
Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson (R) is a viable candidate capable of making inroads in this competitively drawn district.
But it could be a tall order for Larson, particularly in a year when national Republicans do not have the extra money to spend trying to flip marginally competitive districts and national Democrats have plenty of money to spend defending them. The fact that the district is almost two-thirds Hispanic also works in the incumbent’s favor.
While there remains a possibility that Larson could threaten Rodriguez, those chances appear slim. Quico Canseco, the Hispanic lawyer whom Larson defeated easily in the GOP primary, might have fared better in the general election.
Schumer Advocates for Many on Panel
Nov. 16, 12 a.m.
As Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson once said of the Joint Economic Committee, “It’s as useless as tits on a bull.” But as that panel’s chairman during the 110th Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) seized the opportunity to elevate the traditionally low-profile post to the forefront of shaping policy. Read Full Article
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