Congressman Pete Gallego falls in mid-term election to Republican Will Hurd

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Low voter turnout, a sea of “dark money” from extreme, right-wing conservative political action committees, and Republican voter suppression laws such as Voter I.D. defeated popular Democratic Party Congressman Pete P. Gallego bid for re-election to a second two year term against Republican Party challenger Will Hurd, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative, by a mere 2,465 votes.

Two pivotal counties Congressman Gallego needed to turn out strong for him were Maverick County and Val Verde County, but both counties experienced low voter turnout or apathy. Maverick County only had a paltry 5,805 votes cast when it normally receives between 8,000 to 10,000 votes while Val Verde County had 8,195 votes cast when it normally receives 9,000 to 11,000 votes.

Texas District 23 once again flips political party with incumbents being unable to hold on to the evenly split Congressional district between Democrats and Republicans.

Hurd benefitted tremendously from over $3.5 Million of “dark money” from extreme, right-wing conservative political action committees which targeted District 23 as a competitive Congressional race.

The Republican-enacted Voter I.D. law in Texas also may have played a role in Democratic Party-leaning voters choosing not to go cast a ballot, including senior citizens, college students, and minorities.

Another possible contributing factor may have been the U.S. Supreme Court case of Citizens United which allows corporations to donate to political action committees without any restrictions.

With the District being decided by only 2,465 votes, Gallego may challenge the election results or seek to challenge Hurd again in 2016 if he garners the Democratic Party nomination. With a U.S. Presidential election in 2016, a larger voter turnout is expected which may turn the District once again to the opposing party.