Folks.. In Texas the Revolution has begun

House District 97 was not drawn to be a Democratic seat. In 2006, Barrett had taken on the recently retired Anna Mowery and claimed only 40.82% of the vote. Tarrant County on the whole only gave Barbara Radnofsky, the U.S. Senate nominee, 34.80%, Chris Bell 31.07% in his bid for Governor, and the bell weather Texas Supreme Court candidate Bill Moody 42.79% of the vote. The Republican's should have won this election based on the poor democratic performance index (DPI) of the district alone. During the special election yesterday, Barrett won with 52.2% of the vote.

In addition, Barrett was dramatically out spent. According to the 8 day out reports, Mark Shelton spent over $100,000 and raised (and presumably spent) another $10,000 from TexPAC before the election. Barrett on the other hand spent a little over $45,000 according to his 8 day report. Again, according to his telegram reports, raised an additional $4,000 in the final week of the election from Texas Parent PAC and two individuals.

Breaking it down, that means Barrett spent $9.13 per vote compared to about $23.40 per vote for Shelton.

This election was about more than money and numbers, though. Mark Shelton was a pawn for Tom Craddick and his corrupt pay to play model, and Dan Barrett's campaign never let voters forget it. Craddick's failed leadership in the people's House is why TexBlog PAC, the Texas Progressive Alliance, ParentPAC, the Texas League of Conservation Voters, the Fort Worth Star Telegram, and many many many others all endorsed Barrett.