There were no upsets for Austin’s Congressional delegation Tuesday night. On the Republican side, conservative challengers greatly overestimated the degree of anti-Washington sentiment – incumbents Michael McCaul (District 10), John Carter (District 31), and Lamar Smith (District 21) strolled to victory, with Smith’s rock-solid 81% actually being the worst of the lot.

Democratic challengers to those three in November will include Cypress retiree Ted Ankrum against McCaul and Austin real estate broker Lainey Melnick against Smith; Carter has no Dem opponent.

In the one Austin seat not held by the GOP, Columbus physician Donna Campbell (70%) defeated La Grange environmental contractor George Morovich for the right to take on 15-year congressman Lloyd Doggett in District 25.

Unless some of the challengers woo a sugar daddy/mama, the incumbents should sweep the November races. The infamous re-redistricting of 2003, led by now-disgraced former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, ensured one-party domination in each.

This article appears in March 5 • 2010.

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