Ex-Democrat Hall Wins Texas GOP Primary

[NewJerseyDem]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20040310/ap_on_el_ho/texas_congress

DALLAS - A veteran congressman who switched parties this year easily won his Republican primary Tuesday while two Democratic incumbents were struggling to hold onto their seats in the first elections under a new GOP-drawn congressional map.

Longtime Rep. Ralph Hall, who left the Democratic party in January, easily defeated two lesser-known challengers a day after riding with President Bush (news - web sites) on Air Force One to a Houston fund-raiser. Hall's defection landed him critical backing from GOP leaders who called at least one primary opponent and asked him to leave the race.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, a powerful liberal, easily won the nomination over former state Judge Leticia Hinojosa.

In other Democratic races, Rep. Chris Bell of Houston was trailing his challenger and four-term Rep. Ciro Rodriguez of San Antonio was locked in a close battle with former ally Henry Cuellar in an overwhelmingly Hispanic district from San Antonio to the Mexican border.