12.18.07
Democrats win another House seat
Democrats in Texas open an early Christmas present, as one more formerly Republican seat switches to Democratic control in the Texas House of Representatives. Democrat Dan Barrett has defeated Republican Mark M. Shelton in the southwest Fort Worth-area district 97 by a 52-to-48 percent margin.
Turnout was scant, as was anticipated when Republican Governor Rick Perry called a special election in an apparent attempt to suppress turnout and put Shelton in a better position to keep the seat in Republican hands. Gov. Perry’s plan has apparently failed, and now Democrats are poised to reclaim control of the Texas House in November.
When Representative-elect Barrett is sworn in, Republicans will maintain a slim 79-to-71 advantage. A shift of five more seats to Democratic control will flip the House, an opportunity many had not foreseen as possible before 2010. With strong candidates like Diana Maldonado in Eastern Williamson county (district 52), it is beginning to look like the blue wave that swept across the national political landscape last year is finally cresting in Texas.
More on today’s exciting win here.