TX-06: Dems in Disarray!

[Calthrina950]

The unfortunate list of members of Congress who have died in office grows yet longer. And it appears that he may be the first member to have died from coronavirus, which underscores again how serious the pandemic has become. Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, of course, died from it at the end of December, the first Representative-Elect to die in almost 40 years.

[Calthrina950]

Sad news, surprising number of deaths so early into congress. It's a swing district that just barley voted for trump. will be interesting to see if there's a Biden midterm effect/capitol hill insurrection.

https://twitter.com/AlexIp718/status/1358805214401163270

Governor Abbott will have to call a special election to fill the seat. And Letlow, as I noted above, was never a member of Congress, as he died before being sworn in. But congressional deaths do seem to have picked up pace in recent years. Obviously, thanks to advancements in medicine and ever-increasing life expectancy, far fewer members of Congress have died in this century thus far than died during the nineteenth or twentieth centuries. 2007 by far has had the most congressional deaths of any year of the 21st century; six members of Congress (five Representatives and one Senator) died that year.

[Calthrina950]

We could very well have two instances of widow succession in the House, with Julie Letlow and Susan Wright taking their husband's seats. That would bring the number of currently serving widows in the House to three.

[Calthrina950]

We could very well have two instances of widow succession in the House, with Julie Letlow and Susan Wright taking their husband's seats. That would bring the number of currently serving widows in the House to three.

I am somewhat surprised the number is so low. The only one currently serving who assumed her husband's seat in a special is Doris Matsui, if memory serves correctly. Her election wasn't even that long ago!

Well, Matsui's husband, Bob Matsui, died on New Year's Day 2005, and the special election was held later that year. 2005, of course, is sixteen years ago. There haven't been any more recent examples of widow succession until now.

[Calthrina950]

https://twitter.com/alweaver22/status/1366217063337975808?s=21

She's probably a better choice than Wright's wife.

I don't like when spouses or family members feel entitled to a seat because it belonged to their loved one.

That's if you want a Trump sycophant filling the seat. Of course, given how most Republicans still can't seem to shake Trump off, I wouldn't expect much different from Wright. But I'd rather have someone who isn't directly affiliated with Trump or his administration than someone who is.

[Calthrina950]

Black south Dallas is spilling into Ellis

ellis county could be in the mid to high 50s% only for the gop within 20 years

Yeah, I didn't realize Ellis swung left that much. Republicans will still start out as favored in the special, but they could definitely lose this seat if they don't play their cards right.

Katrina Pierson is the kind of candidate who could very well lose this seat for Republicans. Republicans would be well advised to go with Susan Wright as their nominee.

[Calthrina950]

Black south Dallas is spilling into Ellis

ellis county could be in the mid to high 50s% only for the gop within 20 years

Yeah, I didn't realize Ellis swung left that much. Republicans will still start out as favored in the special, but they could definitely lose this seat if they don't play their cards right.

Katrina Pierson is the kind of candidate who could very well lose this seat for Republicans. Republicans would be well advised to go with Susan Wright as their nominee.

In fact, it appears that Pierson isn't running for Congress after all. This is good for Republican prospects in the district.

[Calthrina950]

Wright is the second widow in recent times to lose a bid for her late husband's congressional seat. Maya Rockymoore-Cummings, Elijah Cummings' widow, was defeated in the primary last year by his predecessor, Kweisi Mfume.

[Calthrina950]

Wouldn't read too much into the result; Trump endorsed house candidates lost primaries in 2020 in NC-11, VA-05, and CO-03, though in all 3 cases the candidate who won was more "Trumpy" than the candidate Trump endorsed.

Sometimes I think he just endorses who he thinks is going to win. Even if they are a more establishment option that doesn't share his views.

And in many cases, Trump is clearly pleased by the result. Good in VA-05 was a speaker at his "Stop the Steal" rally, and Cawthorn also has been a staunch Trump supporter and was given a prominent speaking role at the RNC last year.