Redistricting takes its toll on Chris Bell

By JOHN WILLIAMS
Houston Chronicle Political Writer

Congressional redistricting took a toll on U.S. Rep. Chris Bell Tuesday as he was defeated by former Harris County Justice of the Peace Al Green in a contentious Democratic Party primary.

With all votes counted in the primary for the 9th Congressional District, Green had 66 percent of the vote to 31 percent for Bell in a race that was fought along racial lines. A third candidate -- lawyer Beverly Spencer -- had 2 percent.

Democrats are already trying to heal the wounds caused by the primary that became contested when Bell was moved into a new district that Republican legislators created last year in hopes of forcing Bell into a race with a strong black Democratic candidate.

Green is the former president of the Houston chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

more: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/2441846

...I can't wait for his karmic reversal of fortune.

At least we kept Lloyd Doggett.

But, it helps Tom DeLay and his band of evil minions paint the Democrats as the "non-white" party. As we all know, in Texas, racism is still quite alive and well. :grr:

Maybe Chris Bell should have claimed some distant family connection to Archie Bell and the Drells, out of Houston in the 60s.

Chris got swamped, 66-30.

By a man who took money from the Republicans in Harris County.

GOPisE is spot-on; Grover Norquist et. al. want to elect Democrats like Al Green (and not Chris Bell) in order to continue to drive Caucasians away from the party.

Unless the Supreme Court tosses out the Repuke redistricts (fat chance) we also stand a strong chance of losing Nick Lampson and others.

The only way this shit gets stopped is to elect Democratic state representatives.