Former Democrat Texas Congressman Nick Lampson won the Texas House District 22 seat long held by Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who resigned in connection with the campaign funding scandal involving gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The race, which also involved three Republican write-in candidates and a libertarian (Bob Smither), was described in the Texas news media as one of the most contentious and unusual congressional campaigns in history.
DeLay was the second-highest ranking member in the House, where he served as Majority Leader since 2002. DeLay’s resignation came after his name was already printed on the 2006 ballot. Ironically, Lampson lost his other congressional seat after a DeLay-engineered redistricting.
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, a pro-family, pro-life conservative medical doctor and Houston City Council member endorsed by National Right to Life, was the Republican frontrunner.
