|
Democrats claim another seat in Texas race
2006-12-13
Democrats claimed another seat in the House of Representatives on Tuesday in a runoff election that pitted two Latinos against each other, capping the party's recapture of Congress last month. Seven-term Republican incumbent Henry Bonilla lost to former U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez in a race that had angered some as it was held on December 12, which marks Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the most important dates in the Mexican calendar. That was seen by some as a Republican ploy to depress the Hispanic vote in a bid to benefit the conservative Bonilla, a strong supporter of President George W. Bush. But with 95 percent of the vote counted in the sprawling district, Rodriguez held a surprisingly strong 55 percent to 45 percent lead. A spokesman for Bonilla said the conservative incumbent had been "caught up in a tsunami of change" sweeping the country. Rodriguez has embraced many of the liberal policies associated with the Democrats, who regained control of both houses of Congress in last month's midterm election amid voter anger over issues such as the war in Iraq and graft. "This election is about doing the right thing and turning around this country on issues like Iraq and raising the minimum wage," Rodriguez told hundreds of supporters chanting "Ciro! Ciro! Ciro!"
| 
