Texas Politics

Blogging politics, elections and the Capitol with the Austin bureau

Looking for a friendlier court


The Republicans have made a counter move to the Democratic effort to block Republican leaders from picking a replacement for U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay. The Texas Democratic Party went to state district court in Austin last week and won a temporary restraining order blocking the replacement process.

Now, the Texas Republican Party has moved to have the case transferred to federal court.

“Republicans want to ensure that voters in Congressional District 22 are given a choice of candidates in the fall,” Texas Republican Chairwoman Tina Benkiser said. “They deserve a chance for a conservative voice in Congress, and we are confident that they will have one.

DeLay, the former House majority leader, resigned from Congress effective June 9, and the state GOP declared him an ineligible candidate in November because he had moved his official residence to Virginia. That would clear the way for the party to pick a replacement nominee, but Democrats contended there was evidence DeLay still lives in Fort Bend County.

Categories: General
Clay Robison

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