Just In: Richard Morrison withdrawing from District 22 race

Just got this email:

Dear Friends and Supporters,

It is with great sadness that I must withdraw my name from the race for District 22. As you all know I devoted 2 years of my life to win and placed my law practice on hold. With the prospects of having to spend another 2 years winning a primary and then challenging DeLay, my family’s financial situation is not the rosiest. My wife is expecting our 5th child in August and I feel that I must devote my time to getting my financial house in order. I think the biggest issue this county faces is our national debt and for me and mine to be facing debt that could quickly become unmanageable is irresponsible and unwise.

My mother and children's grandmother has also been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. She has vowed to me that she will fight it every step of the way and I have committed to help her with that fight. I ask for your prayers for her and my father.

I am not giving up my fight. I will continue to stay active and work hard for democrats. I ask that you do the same. Tom DeLay is bad for democracy and bad for America. If I can be so bold, I demand that each one of you will commit to work as hard for Congressman Lampson or Councilman Quan as you did for me. Democracy will suffer if you slack off even one bit.

Please do more in your community than just Democratic politics. Become active in Rotary, the local Chamber of Commerce, or your church, mosque or synagogue. Volunteer and began to carry the load in these organizations. Become indispensable to them. And when the conversations turn to politics, let them know that you are a Democrat. Demonstrate by your service that the Democratic Party cares. Through our service we can win back what we have lost and make this great county better.

Finally, I want to thank each one you who has contributed their time, talent and treasure. This campaign was a campaign of service to the people of District 22 and each of you deserve all of the credit. I would not have been the candidate I was without your support.

Fight on!
Richard Morrison

I think that he is doing what is best for his family and the party.

I just opened the email myself, and rushed here to see if it was up. Lyn is fast!LOL!

Good advice in there, too.

I'm a little bummed, but I don't blame him.

after his strong words about making the race a battle on our conference call earlier this month.

But he's got more pressing concerns now.

All the best to Richard and his family.

Also, I think he hoped that Lampson and Quan would agree to bow out and let him be the one to fight DeLay without a Democratic primary fight. That wasn't going to happen. He posted a diary on dailykos asking for advice a couple of days ago, so I wasn't really surprised by this.

I live in District 22 and will support whoever we put up against DeLay!!!

Something like 30% of his old 2nd district lies in the new 22nd (the area around nASA and Galveston County).

And that's how he counters the carpetbagger retort. "Who was it that re-drew these district lines, anyway?"

He'll pull lots of support -- financial and otherwise -- nationally. Probably more than Morrison, truth to tell. Lampson's a good candidate and a good man to boot.

Now how do we we convince Gordon Quan to run against John Culberson?

:evilgrin:

PDittie.

And, we do need to convince Quan to run against Culberson.

I am fine with seeing Lampson run in my district - 22. I actually can hardly wait for this to really ramp up!!!

This is going to be one expensive 2006 - primaries and general election. It will be fun to participate in.

I heard him totally backpedal on women's reproductive rights and equal rights for gays during a televised mini-debate. I now consider him a conservative Democrat at best, a DINO at worst.

and would not even commit to blocking a judicial candidate who intended to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Candidly, a conservative Democrat is probably the only kind that can get elected in the 22nd. For the time being.

Quan may make yet the race, and if he does you'll have a choice between a left Dem and a right one in the primary. A good place for those battles to be had. Though I would much prefer to see Quan run in the 7th.

Lampson (and for that matter, Morrison) is pro-union and pro-environment. They also want government to be fiscally sane. Let's get a Democrat in the seat (and then try to get them to see the light on all our progressive issues).

(This is different than throwing brickbats at the wrong-headed voting records of the Al Greens and Al Edwards and Sylvester Turners of the world, IMHO. Democrats who vote with the GOP ought to be called out on it.)

The only reason I continued to support him through the campaign was because a conservative Democrat is still better than Delay. But I was really disappointed in him. I do agree we need ANY Dem there, but I won't be heaping praise on Morrison OR Lampson.

In a televised mini debate with Poe on a Saturday or Sunday before the election on local TV, Lampson did all he could to win over Republicans by acting like one.

Well. Here's a virtual hug for Morrison. :hug:

I hope to see him supporting whoever does decide to run against DeLay. Morrison is a great guy. Best wishes for him and his family.

Sonia

I understand why he's doing this and I respect him for it. I just wish he could be the guy to actually take down DeLay.

He did confirm on Kos that he'll be at DemFest this June. He deserves a thankyou from everyone who attends.

Many people on this board invested a lot of time, money and energy getting Richard visible. Melissa was one of the first people I met at the Kerry Rally at UH last Earth Day. :hi:

With his backing, I'm happy to throw my support to Lampson or Quan.

Thoughts and best wishes to the Morrison family.

I'm glad to have supported you. I wish your family the best. Take good care of your mom. She needs you now more than we do.

FSC

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