GOP candidate runs on immigration, fails in GOP stronghold in Texas

The results of a runoff election for a vacant seat in the Texas House of Representatives is getting a lot of attention. As the Fort Worth Star-Telegram points out, District 97, went to Democratic candidate Dan Barrett (at right) after being represented by Republicans for thirty years. The candidates had different views of why the race went the way it did:

"I'm in a district of independent-minded voters who were smart enough and cared enough to vote for change," Barrett told more than 50 screaming supporters at the Fox & Hound restaurant in southwest Fort Worth.

Shelton said the dynamics of a runoff affected the results. He said the district still leans Republican. "We knew that Dan Barrett was working hard and with the low voter turnout, it was going to be close," Shelton said.

Turnout in the runoff was 11 percent, down from 19 percent in the November special election.

While Barrett focused his campaign on Shelton's support of the controversial House Speaker, Tom Craddick. What did Shelton focus on? Illegal immigration.

Once again, the immigration issue didn't play out the way the GOP wanted it to.