TX 22: Stockman Says He’s Running To Win, Not Be A Spoiler

CQPolitics has a piece up on former Texas Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Friendswood), who is running as an independent in Tom DeLay’s Congressional District 22. DeLay already faces Democrat Nick Lampson in November and, if Stockman gets enough signatures, it will at least be a three-way race.

Lampson, of course, defeated Stockman in 1994 after Stockman had served only one term.  Here’s more:

Though Stockman says he is running to win, most observers are watching him more for his potential as a “spoiler.” Most votes for Stockman presumably would come from DeLay’s traditional conservative base, eroding the incumbent’s structural advantage in a district that typically leans strongly Republican.

Stockman — now a staff member of the Leadership Institute, which trains young conservative activists — will qualify for the November ballot if he meets a May 11 deadline to submit 500 signatures of 22nd District voters who did not participate in this year’s primary. In that March 7 voting, DeLay defeated three GOP challengers with 62 percent and Lampson was nominated without Democratic opposition.

…Stockman said the reaction to his campaign is “mixed,” but that many voters appear receptive to having an alternative to turmoil-plagued DeLay and Democrat Lampson. “While some Republicans are upset, some Democrats are upset, there are some people who are happy they have an option,” Stockman said.

Stockman said DeLay has not contacted him to express any concerns about his bid. “I have mixed feelings about it, but on the other hand, Tom has never called me and told me not to do it,” said Stockman, who says he has known DeLay since the late 1980s.

Still, Stockman says he will collect more than enough signatures to preclude challenges from opponents and their allies aimed at keeping him off the ballot.

A Houston Chronicle poll taken in January showed Stockman with support from 11 percent of 22nd District respondents, which was greater than the difference between DeLay’s 22 percent and Lampson’s 30 percent; another 37 percent were undecided or stated no preference. DeLay’s campaign has questioned the methodology of that survey.

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