Texas Republicans abandon DeLay fight

Suzanne Gamboa
(AP) Tue Aug 8, 2:43 AM ET

WASHINGTON - There will be no replacement for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on the November ballot.

Delay's name will remain on the ballot, unless he withdraws from the race for the Houston-area House seat he vacated earlier this year. In that case, there would be no Republican candidate to face Democrat Nick Lampson, a former House member. DeLay has until Aug. 25 to decide.

Texas Republicans on Monday abandoned their court fight to replace DeLay on the November ballot after being turned back at the Supreme Court.

The decision came after Justice Antonin Scalia rejected Texas Republicans' request to block an appeals court ruling saying DeLay's name should remain on the ballot.

"I think all our legal avenues are exhausted in terms of affecting the ruling prior to the election," said Jim Bopp Jr., the attorney who argued the Republican Party's case to allow party officials to substitute another candidate for DeLay.

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Scalia did the right thing. I'm surprized!

Anonymous