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Sunday, April 27, 1997

Minority leader urges party to regain Democratic control in U.S. House

By SARAH HORNADAY

Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) - The next U.S. House elections aren't until 1998. But House minority leader Richard Gephardt says the Democratic Party must sink or swim long before then.

"We're going to win or lose the House in the next two months," Gephardt said, estimating that it takes a candidate about 18 months to wage a viable campaign for Congress.

The Missouri Democrat spoke Saturday in Austin before about 200 people at the quarterly meeting of the State Democratic Executive Committee, the party's policymaking committee in Texas.

He urged them to find strong candidates for the 1998 races to help the party retake the U.S. House and Senate.

"The clock's running. We have to get the candidates and then we have to make the grass roots," he said. "We have to replant the grass roots."

Gephardt said the Democratic Party is targeting the seats currently held by freshmen Reps. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, and Pete Sessions, R-Dallas.

In the Texas delegation, Democrats have a 17-13 advantage over Republicans. But Texas has a Republican governor, George W. Bush, and last year the GOP won a majority in the state Senate, its first in a Texas legislative chamber in 125 years.

"A lot will talk that Texas is going Republican," Gephardt said. "It will only go Republican is we let it go Republican. There is enough power in this room to change this state."

Texas Democratic Party chairman Bill White said Gephardt was right about how to win seats next time around.

"We have a grass roots organization," White said. "We need to improve our outreach to people who have not participated historically in the political process."

Gephardt's goals for the Lone Star State are realistic, he said, adding, "in Texas, we vow contribution of at least two more seats to the Democratic majority." Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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