2003 Texas's 19th congressional district special election

The 2003 United States House of Representatives special election in Texas's 19th congressional district was held on June 3, 2003 to select the successor to Larry Combest (R) who resigned to spend more time with his family.[1] In accordance with Texas law, the special election was officially nonpartisan. This election took place during the highly controversial 2003 Texas Redistricting, during which the placement of the cities of Lubbock and Midland within the district were heavily debated. Though Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock won the special election, the new maps used for the 2004 elections put Midland in a separate district, allowing Mike Conaway to run in and win the open seat.[2]

2003 Texas' 19th congressional district special election

← 2002 May 3, 2003 (first round)
June 3, 2003 (runoff)
2004 →
 
Nominee Randy Neugebauer Mike Conaway
Party Republican Republican
First round 13,091
22.42%
12,270
21.02%
Runoff 28,546
50.52%
27,959
49.48%

 
Candidate Carl Isett David Langston
Party Republican Republican
First round 11,015
18.87%
8,053
13.79%
Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Neugebauer:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Conaway:      20–30%      30–40%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Bell:      70–80%
Christian:      20–30%

Bartlett:      20–30%

U.S. Representative before election

Larry Combest
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Randy Neugebauer
Republican

On May 3, seventeen candidates, including eleven Republicans, competed on the same ballot. However, as no candidate was able to achieve a majority, a runoff was held a month later.

2003 Texas 19th Special Primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Neugebauer 13,091 22.42
Republican Mike Conaway 12,270 21.02
Republican Carl Isett 11,015 18.87
Republican David Langston 8,053 13.79
Republican Stace Williams 2,609 4.46
Republican Vickie Sutton 1,987 3.40
Republican Jamie Berryhill Jr. 1,907 3.26
Republican John D. Bell 1,883 3.22
Democratic Kaye Gaddy 1,396 2.39
Republican Richard Bartlett 1,046 1.79
Republican Bill Christian 1,029 1.76
Democratic Jerri Simmons-Asmussen 898 1.53
Republican Donald May 629 1.07
Green Julia Penelope 223 0.38
Libertarian Chip Peterson 159 0.27
Constitution Thomas Flournoy 93 0.15
Independent Ed Hicks 81 0.13
Total votes 58,369 100

Runoff edit

Former Mayor pro tempore of Lubbock Randy Neugebauer narrowly won in the runoff over Mike Conaway, the Chairman of the Texas Board of Public Accountancy, despite the latter's connections to then-President and former Governor of Texas George W. Bush.[2]

2003 Texas 19th Special Run-off[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Neugebauer 28,546 50.52
Republican Mike Conaway 27,959 49.48
Total votes 56,505 100

References edit

  1. ^ FREEDMAN, D. A. N. (December 10, 2002). "Wife´s troubles prompt Combest resignation 12-09-2002". Plainview Herald. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Bickerstaff, Steve (2007). Lines in the Sand: Congressional Redistricting in Texas and the Downfall of Tom Delay. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-292-71474-8.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Special Runoff Election, US Representative District 19". June 3, 2003.