Congressional races round 2: Texas

Continuing through the alphabet.

Texas has 32 representatives: 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats

The filing deadline was Jan 2, and the primary was March 4, with a runoff on April 8, where needed

District: TX-01

Location Eastern TX, bordering LA and a tiny bit of AR, including Tyler

Representative Louie Gohmert (R)

First elected  2004

2006 margin 68-30

2004 margin 61-38

Bush margin 2004 69-31

Notes on opponents In 2004, Gohmert ousted Max Sandlin, each spent about the same ($1.8 mill for Gohmert, $1.6 for Sandlin).  The 2006 opponent raised little

Current opponents No Democrats

Demographics 55th most rural (49.1%), 72nd lowest income (median = $33K), 90th most Blacks (18.9%), 25th most Republican

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-02

Location Oh, the odd shapes of TX districts!  This one mostly runs east west, from the LA border (and the Gulf) west to outer Houston.  But it also extends north a bit.

Representative Ted Poe (R)

First elected  2004

2006 margin 66-33

2004 margin 56-43

Bush margin 2004 63-37

Notes on opponents In 2004, Poe ousted Nick Lampson, spending $1.5 million to Lampson’s $2.4. The 2006 opponent raise little

Current opponents No Democrats

Demographics 94th most Blacks (19%), 74th most Republican

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-03

Location North central TX, including Plano and Garland

Representative Sam Johnson (R)

First elected  1991

2006 margin 63-35

2004 margin 86-8-6 against minor parties

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Tom Daley raised $5K, $3K COH;  Johnson has $750K COH

Demographics 61st highest income (median = $61K), 61st fewest veterans (9.5%), 25th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-04

Location Northeastern TX, bordering OK and AR, including Texarkana

Representative Ralph Hall (R)

First elected  1980

2006 margin 64-33

2004 margin 68-30

Bush margin 2004 70-30

Notes on opponents In 2004, Jim Nickerson raised $200K to Hall’s $1.1 million, in 2006, Glenn Melancon raised less than $100K

Current opponents Glenn Melancon is running again; he has raised $25K but has no COH; Hall has $350K COH, not much for an incumbent with a challenger

Demographics  44th most rural (50.4%), 25th most Republican

Assessment Long shot, but not totally long…. Hall is getting old (born 1923 – he is the oldest person in the House) and his fundraising has been anemic.

District: TX-05

Location Shaped like a C; the inner-top of the C is near Dallas, it goes south and then east, and also east directly from Dallas

Representative Jeb Hansarling (R)

First elected  2002

2006 margin 62-36

2004 margin 64-33

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents neither raised much

Current opponents No Democrat

Demographics 34th most Republican

Assessment  Free ride

District: TX-06

Location Shaped sort of like a boot, with an added doodad on top, the top of the boot is south and west of Dallas, it extends south about 100 miles and then east

Representative Joe Barton (R)

First elected  1984

2006 margin 60-37

2004 margin 66-33

Bush margin 2004 66-34

Notes on opponents In 2004, Morris Meyer raised $100K to Barton’s $1.8 million.  The 2006 opponent raised little

Current opponents Ludwig Otto

Demographics 42nd most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-07

Location Western outskirts of Houston

Representative John Culberson (R)

First elected  2000

2006 margin 59-38

2004 margin 64-33

Bush margin 2004 64-36

Notes on opponents In 2006, Jim Henley raised $122K to Culberton’s $700K

Current opponents Michael Skelly has (this is interesting) raised $465K (almost all from individuals) to Culberson’s $322K (almost half from PACs).  Even more interesting, Skelly has more COH: $400K to $82K

Demographics 70th highest income (median = $58K), 66th fewest veterans (9.9%), 33rd most Republican

Assessment Somewhat vulnerable. Superribbie ranks it the 75th most vulnerable Republican seat

District: TX-08

Location The southern part of eastern TX, bordering LA

Representative Kevin Brady (R)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 67-33

2004 margin 69-30

Bush margin 2004 72-28

Notes on opponents  Jim Wright ran both times, and raised little

Current opponents Kent Hargett

Demographics 45th lowest income (median = $40K), 10th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-09

Location Part of Houston and southern suburbs

Representative Al Green (D)

First elected  2004

2006 margin Unopposed

2004 margin 72-27

Bush margin 2004 30-70

Notes on opponents In 2004, Arlette Molina raised $133K to Green’s $838K

Current opponents No Republican

Demographics 28th fewest veterans (7.1%), 13th fewest Whites (17.4%), 54th most Blacks (37%), 64th most Latinos (32.8%), 12th most nonWhite, nonBlack, nonLatinos (mostly 11% Asians), 45th most Democratic

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-10

Location A long, narrow district running from Austin almost to Houston

Representative Michael McCaul (R)

First elected  2004

2006 margin 55-40 (most of rest to a Libertarian)

2004 margin 79-15-6 against minor parties

Bush margin 2004 62-38

Notes on opponents In 2006, Ted Ankrum raised only $64K

Current opponents Larry Joe Doherty has raised $447K, almost all from individuals.  McCaul has raised about $500K, 40% of it from PACs. Each has about $100K COH

Demographics 77th highest income (median = $52K), 85th most Latinos (18.7%), 61st most Republican

Assessment Somewhat vulnerable. Superribbie ranks it the 62nd most vulnerable Republican seat; Doherty is a TV star, so has good name recog, and seems to be a good fundraiser

District: TX-11

Location Western TX, bordering (a little) on NM, including Odessa, Midland, and Brownwood

Representative Mike Conaway (R)

First elected 2004

2006 margin unopposed

2004 margin 77-22

Bush margin 2004 78-22

Notes on opponents no money

Current opponents No Democrat

Demographics 60th lowest income (median = $33K), 50th most Latinos (29.6%), 4th most Republican

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-12

Location Part of Ft. Worth, and western and northern suburbs

Representative Kay Granger (R)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 67-31

2004 margin 72-28

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Tracey Smith (no fundraising info).  Granger has about $120K COH.

Demographics 63rd most Latinos (23.7%), 50th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-13

Location Northern panhandle, bordering OK and NM

Representative Mac Thornberry (R)

First elected  1994

2006 margin 74-23

2004 margin 92-8 against a Libertarian

Bush margin 2004 78-22

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Roger Waun , who lost in 2006, is running again

Demographics 72nd lowest income (median = $34K), 4th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-14

Location Most of the Gulf Coast of TX

Representative Ron Paul (R)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 60-40

2004 margin Unopposed

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents In 2006, Shane Sklar raised $550K to Paul’s $1.5 million

Current opponents No Democrat

Demographics 60th most Latinos (24.9%), 50th most Republican

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-15

Location Southern TX, between the Gulf and Mexico, but bordering neither

Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 62-24-15 (two Republicans)

2004 margin 58-41

Bush margin 2004 51-49

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Eddie Zamora has $720 (no K) COH; Hinojosa has $300K

Demographics 6th lowest income (median = $27K), 59th fewest veterans (9.3%), 18th fewest Whites (19.7%), 64th fewest Blacks (1.7%), 2nd most Latinos (77.6%) (only TX-16 is higher), fewest nonBlack, nonWhite, nonLatino (1%)

Assessment Safe

District: TX-16

Location Westernmost TX, bordering NM and Mexico, including El Paso

Representative Silvestre Reyes (D)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 79-21 vs. a Libertarian

2004 margin 68-31

Bush margin 2004 44-56

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents No Republican

Demographics 43rd lowest income (median = $31K), 13th fewest Whites (17.4%), most Latinos (77.7%)

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-17

Location Another TX district with twists, but it’s south of Dallas and centers on Waco

Representative Chet Edwards (D)

First elected  1990

2006 margin 58-40

2004 margin 51-47

Bush margin 2004 70-30

Notes on opponents In 2004, Arlene Wohlgemuth and Edwards each had about $2.5 million; in 2006, Van Taylor raised $2.5 million to Edwards $3.1 million

Current opponents Rob Curnock (no funding info), Edwards has raised about $1.3 million and has about $1 million COH

Demographics 18th most Republican

Assessment  Vulnerable.  On the DCCC list . Superribbie ranks it the the 18th most vulnerable Democratic seat.  It will be interesting to see Curnock’s fundraising report

District: TX-18

Location Shaped sort of like a Q, in Houston and suburbs

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D)

First elected  1994

2006 margin 77-19

2004 margin 89-6-5 vs. minor parties

Bush margin 2004 28-72

Notes on opponents no money

Current opponents John Faulk has only about $5K COH, Lee has over $200K

Demographics 40th lowest income (median = $31K), 41st fewest veterans (8.3%), 17th fewest Whites (19.7%), 32nd most Blacks (40.1%), 43rd most Latinos (35.6%), 37th most Democratic

Assessment safe

District: TX-19

Location Another weird shape…like a W with extra squiggles.  Borders NM in the west, then jiggles around eventually almost reaching the OK border; includes Lubbock

Representative Randy Neugebauer(R)

First elected  2003

2006 margin 68-30

2004 margin 58-40

Bush margin 2004 77-23

Notes on opponents In 2004, Charlie Stenholm raised $2.5 million to Neugebauer’s 3.2 million.  The 2006 opponent raised little

Current opponents Dwight Fullingim (no funding info), Neugebauer has $440K COH

Demographics 46th lowest income (median = $32K), 53rd most Latinos (29%), 4th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-20

Location San Antonio and a odd shaped area around it

Representative Charlie Gonzalez (D)

First elected  1998

2006 margin 87-13 against a Libertarian

2004 margin 65-32

Bush margin 2004 45-55

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Robert Litoff (no funding info), Gonzalez has about $175 K COH

Demographics 51st lowest income (median = $32K), 31st fewest Whites (23.4%), 9th most Latinos (67.1%)

Assessment Safe

District: TX-21

Location Mostly west of San Antonio, but also north and east of San Antonio, towards Austin

Representative Lamar Smith (R)

First elected  1986

2006 margin 60-25-9 (two Democrats)

2004 margin 61-30

Bush margin 2004 66-34

Notes on opponents In 2006, John Courage raised $350K to Smith’s $1.6 million

Current opponents No Democrat

Demographics 25th most veterans (16.8%), 71st most Latinos (21.3%), 33rd most Republican.

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-22

Location Oh, I dunno…. a bowtie with one strand loose? Mostly south of Houston

Representative Nick Lampson (D)

First elected  2006

2006 margin 52-42

2004 margin NA

Bush margin 2004 64-36

Notes on opponents In 2006, Sekula-Gibbs raised $900K to Lampson’s $3.6 million

Current opponents Pete Olson raised about $810K but has only $114K left, and $170K in debt.  Lampson has about $740K COH

Demographics 48th highest income (median = $58K), 42nd most Republican

Assessment Vulnerable. On the DCCC list .   Superribbie ranks it the the most vulnerable Democratic seat.  This is Tom DeLay’s old seat.  Lampson  has a fundraising edge (as of mid-February) but now that the Republican primary is over, this will get hot

District: TX-23

Location Western TX, except for El Paso, borders Mexico and NM

Representative Ciro Rodriguez (D)

First elected 2006

2006 margin 54-46

2004 margin NA

Bush margin 2004 57-43

Notes on opponents In 2006, Rodriguez ousted Bonilla, although Bonilla had $3.8 million and Rodriguez less than $1 million. This district changed a lot in 2006 and before, and Rodriguez used to represent part of it

Current opponents Lyle T. Larson has $124K COH.  Rodriguez has about $660K.

Demographics 74th lowest income (median = $34K), 47th fewest Whites (30%), 13th most Latinos (65.1%).

Assessment Vulnerable. On the DCCC list

District: TX-24

Location Shaped like a T between Dallas and Ft. Worth

Representative Kenny Marchant (R)

First elected  2004

2006 margin 60-37

2004 margin 64-34

Bush margin 2004 65-35

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Tom Love has almost no COH; Marchant has $400K COH and $125K in debt

Demographics 47th highest income (median = $56K), 42nd most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-25

Location Austin and southern and eastern suburbs

Representative Lloyd Doggett (D)

First elected  1994

2006 margin 67-26

2004 margin 68-31

Bush margin 2004 46-54

Notes on opponents In 2004 Rebecca Armendariz Klein raised $800K to Doggett’s $2 million.  The 2006 opponent raised little

Current opponents George Morovich (no funding info); Doggett has $2.5 million COH

Demographics 94th fewest veterans (10.8%), 98th fewest Whites (52.9%), 45th most Latinos (33.9%)

Assessment Pretty safe

District: TX-26

Location   A square with two sticks, running north from Ft. Worth to the OK border

Representative Michael Burgess (R)

First elected  2002

2006 margin 60-37

2004 margin 66-33

Bush margin 2004 65-35

Notes on opponents Neither raised much

Current opponents Ken Leach , no funding info.  Burgess has only $39K COH.

Demographics 74th most Republican

Assessment Well, we’re not favored….but… Burgess got 75% in 2002, 66% in 2004, 60% in 2006…who knows?

District: TX-27

Location The southern Gulf coast

Representative Solomon Ortiz (D)

First elected  1982

2006 margin 57-39

2004 margin 63-35

Bush margin 2004 55-45

Notes on opponents Willie Vaden ran both times, raising about $50K in 2004 and $100K in 2006. Ortiz got around $700K each time

Current opponents Willie Vaden again (no funding info).  Ortiz has about $250K COH

Demographics 41st lowest income (median = $31K), 34th fewest Whites (27.6%), 8th most Latinos (68.1%)

Assessment Safe

District: TX-28

Location Southern TX along the Mexican border

Representative Henry Cuellar (D)

First elected  2004

2006 margin Unopposed

2004 margin 59-39

Bush margin 2004 54-46

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Jim Fish ($150 COH), Cuellar has about $42K COH, but $100K in debt

Demographics 17th lowest income (median = $29K), 49th fewest veterans (8.7%), 20th fewest Whites (20.3%), 36th fewest Blacks (1.1%), 3rd most Latinos (77.5%)

Assessment probably safe

District: TX-29

Location If you can describe this shape, you’re good! East of Houston

Representative Gene Green (D)

First elected  1992

2006 margin 74-24

2004 margin 94-6 against a Libertarian

Bush margin 2004 44-56

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Eric Story, who lost in 2006, has $833 COH; Green has $554K

Demographics 48th lowest income (median = $32K), 28th fewest Whites (21.9%), 10th most Latinos (66.1%)

Assessment Safe

District: TX-30

Location Dallas and southern suburbs

Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D)

First elected  1992

2006 margin 80-18

2004 margin 93-7 against a Libertarian

Bush margin 2004 25-75

Notes on opponents Little money

Current opponents Fred Wood (no funding info) Johnson has about $150K COH

Demographics 72nd lowest income ($34K), 45th fewest veterans (8.4%), 28th fewest Whites (21.9%), 30th most Blacks (41.4%), 43rd most Latinos (34.2%), 31st most Democratic

Assessment Safe

District: TX-31

Location North and west of Austin

Representative John Carter (R)

First elected  2002

2006 margin 58-39

2004 margin 65-32

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents In 2004, Jon Porter raised little.  In 2006 Mary Beth Harrell raised $207K to Carter’s $900K

Current opponents Brian Ruiz , no funding info.  Carter has about $130 COH

Demographics 29th most veterans (16.4%), 33rd most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-32

Location Shaped like most of a circle, near Dallas

Representative Pete Sessions (R)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 56-41

2004 margin 54-44

Bush margin 2004 60-40

Notes on opponents In 2004, Martin Frost raised $4.8 million to Sessions’ $4.5 million.  In 2006, Will Pryor raised $500K to Sessions’ $1.8 million

Current opponents Eric Roberson has about $3K COH, Sessions has about $860K COH

Demographics 53rd fewest veterans (8.9%), 90th fewest Whites (50.1%), 40th most Latinos (36.2%), 86th most Republican

Assessment Long shot