Dems Score A Win Over GOP In Texas

Ciro Rodriguez Defeats Incumbent Rep. Bonilla In Tuesday's Runoff

(AP)  Democrat Ciro Rodriguez's victory over seven-term Republican incumbent Henry Bonilla is another blow to Republicans who lost control of Congress five weeks ago.

"I think (it was) the trend throughout the country," Rodriguez said after his 54 percent to 46 percent victory in Tuesday's runoff. "I think they're fed up ... they elect us to go out there and solve problems, not create any more."

Although the former House member lost his last two attempts to return to Congress, Rodriguez did well in Bexar County, where the district gained new Hispanic and Democratic ground when it was redrawn in August. Rodriguez also dominated in Maverick County, home to the border city of Eagle Pass, while Bonilla did well in rural Uvalde and Medina counties west of San Antonio. The men were almost even in Val Verde County, home to Laughlin Air Force Base.

"No one would have predicted that Rodriguez would win this big," said Gary Keith, a senior lecturer in government at the University of Texas at Austin. "It's going to be read as a further vindication of Democratic strength in November and it may well be. But on the other hand it may be that there was a very strong get-out-the-vote effort."

Encouraging partisan turnout was the refrain for both campaigns. Bexar County, the district's population anchor, extended its early voting period. While early voting tends to be Republican, Rodriguez carried the early vote.

Rodriguez said a last-minute visit from former President Clinton that drew hundreds of supporters on Sunday provided an important boost to his campaign.

Keith said it's possible voters also simply decided they would be better represented by a lawmaker in the majority party.

"That's often a card that's used in campaigns - whether one will be sidelined," Keith said.

Bonilla called Rodriguez Tuesday evening to concede, Bonilla spokesman Phil Ricks said.

Bonilla blamed the Supreme Court ruling that declared the district's former boundaries unconstitutional and forced a redrawing of the district that added more Hispanic Democratic voters.

"We just couldn't score again and again," Bonilla told supporters. "But that's OK. This is a different time now. I can tell you I've had 14 years as a member of the House of Representatives and I count my blessings."

The pickup for the Democrats in Congressional District 23 narrows Republicans' margin in the state's congressional delegation to 19-13. Texas added one Democrat already in the suburban Houston 22nd Congressional District once held by Republican Rep. Tom DeLay.

Bonilla, the only Mexican-American Republican in Congress, nearly avoided the runoff when he came just shy of the 50 percent mark in a Nov. 7 free-for-all special election that included eight candidates. Rodriguez, in second place, advanced to the runoff with Bonilla.

Bonilla, who dismissed contentions that his support among Hispanic voters had eroded over the years, sought an eighth term in Washington, while Rodriguez now returns after a two-year absence.

Rodriguez served from 1997-2005 in another district, but was ousted in the March 2004 Democratic primary by Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo. Rodriguez lost again to Cuellar in this year's primary for the 28th District.

Bonilla far outpaced Rodriguez in fundraising ability, but the Democratic Campaign Committee spent more than $870,000 in the runoff to boost Rodriguez's campaign.

The Supreme Court ruled in June that a 2003 reconfiguration of the 23rd District was unconstitutional because it diluted minority votes by splitting Laredo, a city that is almost all Hispanic, into two districts.

A three-judge panel redrew the district in August to restore 100,000 Hispanics to the 23rd District that had been shunted elsewhere. The new district, which stretches from San Antonio south to the Mexican border and almost to El Paso in the west, gave Rodriguez yet another chance at national office and made Bonilla fight a little harder to keep his seat.

The new 23rd district has a voting age population that is 61 percent Hispanic, versus a 51 percent Hispanic voting age population before.

[frankly6]

getserious1

Your right but you stop short. The game itself is corrupt. That's why there is so much corruption in American politics. It costs so much money to run for office today that by the time most politicians reach high office they've had to sell out to countless special interests. As a result, they pay lip service to the needs of the people but really serve the special interests. It's gotten so bad in recent years that corporate lobyists are actually writing many of the laws that effect them often these laws end up going directly aqainst public safety and the public good.

There will never be true reform or even representative government on any level until we do something about the absolutely corrupting influence that money has on our political system.

[frankly6]

O.K. here's the problem neo-cons. You are a broken record, a ship with no compass. This is a story about GOP gerrymandering, the judicial system working and a hispanic candidate who suceeded against a corrupt GOP in a red (neck) state. There is nothing here about Clinton, Christmas or pedophelia. You are spinning out of control. You can't post your ideas and/or frustrations on the FOX site because they know the kind of mindless, racist spew they would get if they created a forum for neo-cons. You can't exercise your right to free speech and participate in the marketplace of ideas on the conservatives site, so you come here to spam instead. Americans got a belly full of you during the expensive, yet fruitless, Clinton hearings and you've lost any semblance of credibility. Name calling won't do it any longer. You are going to have to come up with something substantive or you will continue to slip into political oblivion and historical rrelevancy.

Posted by huskerarmy at 11:05 AM : Dec 13, 2006

[getserious1]

Do you dems actually believe that your elected officials are going to be any less corrupt than the repubs?? Are you really that naive? 12 years ago, the voters said NO to the corrupt and ineffective controlling party (the dems). The people voted for a change in politics. It didn't work. It won't work now. BOTH parties are corrupt...Just look at how Pelosi is assigning folks to different committees, it is all done by favors and such....nothing is going to change. Today's problems are not caused by repubs or dems, they are created by crooked politicians and they permeate BOTH parties. The press is going to write only that which they can make controversial, thus generate a 'buzz' about the article and thus gain more readers and wow, more advertisers.....it is all about the money, forget 'american way' as taught when we were kids, it is all about the money and always has been.

[macusweil]

It will take years and many elections to undo the severe damage the GOP (Great Opportunistic Pretenders) have done to this nation over the past 12 years. But one less of them in Congress is still a very good thing.

[sunshine_2]

@ Pensacola8
"The power of the Texas Governor is severely restricted and less powerful than 47 other states." .....

I say: " If you want to life under a different State Constitution ... Go TO Another State!! OR, If You Don't Like The Constitution of the United States, GO Find Another Country. The 'grass only looks greener on the other side', after a short time you will come back home. "

Texas Government 101: If it were a business the Texas Governor = Largest Share Holder/Owner and the Lt. Governor = Chief Operations Officer Treasurer = Chief Financial Officer and so on .... and the senate & congress/People = the Share Holders/joint owners receiving dividens & makeing Policy Corrections/Re-directing Decisions (voting).

[sunshine_2]

@ Pensacola8
"The power of the Texas Governor is severely restricted and less powerful than 47 other states." .....
The Governor is Limited in Powers, but has not Term Limits, Preventing Him From Becomeing 'king-like' (like some mayors or govornors in other states). Texas is the Only State I know of where we could Actually have One Party as Govonor and Another Party In as Lt. Governor.
Many states could learn alot by the "limited powers" our Governor has. It Forces him to Work With Both Houses and also give the Vice President a "voice in governing" someone we also vote into office. Unlike the National Form, where we don't have a Choice of Vice Precident.
Many States have a form of government similar to the Nation's, & the Governor is like the "President" with his Powers almost unlimited if unchecked!! In Texas the Govoner is more like a Prime Minister, a head of state: setting agendas, dealing with other states and foreign affairs, economics ect. While the LT Governor is actually more involved in the day to day affairs of the Government, but can't call "housemeetings or sessions of the state congress.
It is a balancing act, that makes the Lt. Governor and Governor Work as a team in dealing wiht the senate and congress fo the state... rather then one of them just being a "Yes Guy".

[randalds]

I agree Sunshine_2, it would be nice to see republicans run on something, anything, other then fear, but they can't. It's the only issue they have. They've screwed up the economy (except for the already rich, who oddly enough are doing great), they've thrown away nearly a trillion dollars on an insane war of choice in Iraq, they've let bin Laden laugh at them because of the Iraq distraction, they've spent a jokingly small amount of money on real homeland security, they have dropped the ball (except for when they've sold us out for bribes) on so many things that the only way they can try to get people to vote for them is to scare them into it. They're pathetic.

[sunshine_2]

If Bonia had not gone so Negative wiht the "false terrorism connections" he might have stood a chance.
Did he really believe that Texans are dumb enough to believe: That Bush, The FBI or CIA had enough credibale proof or evidance that a Politician had Terrorist Connections, and he was not being Tortured in a foriegn country, rather then let him run for Re-Election to public office.

Again resorting to "Terrorism Fear Tatics and Mud slinging Ads" failed to Save the Republican Party. Bonia, just never really had any thing good to say about his own record unless he was Confronted wiht the Facts of his failures to Serve All Who elected him, and tried very hard to Smear Rodriguez. People are realy tired of 'special interest' cnadidates adn those 'serving the rich' with tax breaks that dont help the 'little guy'.

Even the Republican Party Office Holders of Texas or the Nation did not Come to Bonia;s aid when it was becoming obvious he was 'slipping away" or even endorse him. 'The Fear Ads', accusing Rodriguez of terrorist connections, may have kept them away so they would not "dirty the Party Image'.

[randalds]

Give 'em Hell huskerarmy!

[oleander8]

Bonilla: "I can tell you I've had 14 years as a member of the House of Representatives and I count my blessings."

I'll bet you're counting your profits too.

[sunshine_2]

@ janem4

"-I've always said it isn't so much the news they cover-it's the news they don't cover."

If you Buy a TV. you can see a lot of the coverage you mentioned, on CBS, ABC And NBC as well as PBS. You will also know that the Congress and the media have indicated there is not sufficient reason to "re-hash" or invistigate most of your "Complaints".
If your just looking for Democrat Bashing Stories... go watch Fox News. I for one do believe that CBS NBC and ABC does a fairly good job at giving a 'balanced view', from both sides. However, they Wont Print Baseless Rumors and unfounded personal attacks.
Maybe since the Rupublicans are now almost fully out of any Government Control, you can now 'get a life' and let the Dems 'fix the problems.'
After 2008 Nationl Vote is taken, you will be able to 'Blame It All' on the Democrats and that should make you happy. But since you will be so depressed you wont vote (again) you can also blame yourself for the Democrat Resurgance.

[getcentered]

It is amazing to me how out of touch and willfully ignorant people who vote for GOP/Republicans are these days. There are HUGE reasons that the rest of country voted OUT the CURSORY Republicans leadership in Congress.

Stop throwing blame around blindly. Look at many sources for your information about what your government is doing and why. THEN VOTE ACCORDINGLEY.

Don't vote because of some random affiliation with a religious sect or a corporate society.

Hopefully people will now realize how their votes can help decide whether or not our military service men and women will die for cooked up reasons or for TRUE DEFENCE.

IT is our RESPONSIBILITY.

[pensacola8-2009]

Gerrymandering (sp?) in Texas has been rampant for decades. Every ten years after the census is taken, the district borders are re-written and the political parties slug it out in the supreme court. It sickens the average Texan to see that voter engineering and delegate pre-disposition falls out of our control every ten years. The border boundaries are ridiculous and few are ever published on any map or internet web site for the public to see. This election result gives voters just two years until the next court fight is won or lost. Texas politics is dirty and dysfunctional. It is all fought in the courts and out of the publics' hands. Her constitution is outdated and ineffective. There is only a 90 day legislature convened every two years to govern the state. The power of the Texas Governor is severely restricted and less powerful than 47 other states. Texas lives in the dark ages of goverment, today. Great win for Bexar county at the Federal level! Get a new constitution on the State level! Texas suffers from antiquated government. Texans are in crisis and yet don't know it.

[texaskos_com]

Ahhh. It's so much easier to be snarky when you're winning, huh? Ahhh. That was my blood pressure dropping. Man, victory is pretty healthy.

Guess that means we're going to have alot of stressed out, unhealthy Republicans for the next several years, huh?

To my GOPer brethern & sistern, I hear garlic is great for the heart. Doh! Sorry. I forgot. Vampires are allergic to garlic. And well, no need to worry about a heart, when ya don't have one.

Ask the Cheneys.

Ommmmmmmmmmmm. Oh, I'm sorry. That whole peace thing offends y'all too.

TexasKaos.com

[frankly6]

huskerarmy

Wow..well said.

[huskerarmy]

"gslinger3-I've always said it isn't so much the news they cover-it's the news they don't cover."

O.K. here's the problem neo-cons. You are a broken record, a ship with no compass. This is a story about GOP gerrymandering, the judicial system working and a hispanic candidate who suceeded against a corrupt GOP in a red (neck) state. There is nothing here about Clinton, Christmas or pedophelia. You are spinning out of control. You can't post your ideas and/or frustrations on the FOX site because they know the kind of mindless, racist spew they would get if they created a forum for neo-cons. You can't exercise your right to free speech and participate in the marketplace of ideas on the conservatives site, so you come here to spam instead. Americans got a belly full of you during the expensive, yet fruitless, Clinton hearings and you've lost any semblance of credibility. Name calling won't do it any longer. You are going to have to come up with something substantive or you will continue to slip into political oblivion and historical rrelevancy.

[houser123]

WOW, another long term GOPEE er bites the dust and all Janem and gslinger can do attempt to show how biased CBS is. What a load of ***. I think I will end this post with one of those favorite Neo-con quotes from teh early days of the Iraq war. "If you don't like my country, get the h ell out." How many times did we hear that from the Republican talking heads? Thanks to all the voters that placed the adults back in charge in Washington.

[jn122736]

janem4-gslinger3

Don%u2019t you think you should wish CBS Happy Holidays-Merry Christmas and thank them for providing you with this venue to vent your obvious anger and frustration?

[bluestardad]

Republicans Go Away, just leave you pimps!

[macusweil]

The Republican-- party once proud and yes even Grand has been diminished by closet criminals and the self-serving to be a loose knit coalition party of fringe extremists of various repugnant flavors. Honest Abe & TR we need you today!!