AUSTIN — Speaker Tom Craddick's tenuous leadership hold on the Texas House of Representatives likely will get weaker after upcoming elections, some critics said Thursday.
With candidate lineups set for the March 4 primaries, none of last year's three chief rivals from Craddick's own GOP drew primary opponents. But several of Craddick's GOP allies face primary election challenges, as do several of his Democrat supporters.
"I think it spells the end of Mr. Craddick's 40-year career," Democratic political consultant Kelly Fero said.
The issue of Craddick is front and center for a number of them, including Brian Thompson's Democratic primary challenge of Rep. Dawnna Dukes of Austin. Dukes is among several Democrats who have supported Craddick drawing opposition. Others include Reps. Kevin Bailey of Houston, Kino Flores of Palmview and Aaron Pena of Edinburg.
Thompson, on his campaign Web site, says the message from his supporters has been that "our community is tired of being represented by a Republican funded, career politician who has pledged absolute loyalty to the Republican Speaker of the House and who continues to vote against the best interests of her district."
