Nick Lampson

Nicholas V. Lampson (born February 14, 1945) is an American politician from the state of Texas. He was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas' 9th District from 1997 to 2005, and is currently the leading Democratic candidate in the neighboring 22nd District, the home district of longtime Republican power broker Tom DeLay, in 2006.

2004 Election & Redistricting

Lampson had been reelected three times without serious opposition, but in 2003, DeLay orchestrated a controversial mid-decade redistricting in an effort to get more Republican congressmen elected from Texas. Lampson was one of the targets. His district was renumbered the 2nd and was radically altered. In particular, Galveston, which had been the heart of the district and its previous incarnations for over a century, was removed. Also removed was the portion of Houston near the Johnson Space Center. In its place, several heavily Republican areas in and around Houston were added to the district.

Related Topics:
2003 - Redistricting - Galveston - Houston - Johnson Space Center

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Lampson's Republican opponent was Ted Poe, a longtime felony court judge in Harris County, home to most of Houston. Lampson fought a hard race, but lost by 12 points, 55-43%. He only managed to win Jefferson County, but was heavily defeated in Harris (Poe won there with 70% of the vote).

Related Topics:
Ted Poe - Harris County

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On May 4, 2005 Lampson announced that he was going to run in Texas' 22nd Congressional District, DeLay's home district. The 22nd had absorbed several parts of Lampson's former territory, including much of Galveston. DeLay, who was then the House Majority Leader had only managed a 14-point victory in 2004--far less than what is normally expected for the leader of a major party in Congress. Many experts believed that the 22nd, long considered a rock-ribbed Republican district, had become much more competitive as a result of DeLay's attempts to make the other Houston-area districts more Republican. It is possible that Lampson's chances may have increased given DeLay's indictment on conspiracy charges.

Related Topics:
May 4 - 2005 - House Majority Leader - Conspiracy

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