Marc Campos stirs the pot.
Commentary votes in the 18th Congressional District so I kind of think I know what I’m talking about when I say that I don’t know if Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s reelection in 2010 would be a slam dunk deal. Discussion of her reelection chances come up in conversations with African American, Latino, GLBT, and Anglo activists. Most would likely support a viable opponent in the 2010 Democratic Primary. There aren’t a whole lot of folks that are saying they would stand with Sheila next year. One that is willing is a long time state representative. The question is who is the viable opponent? This could well be the hottest local race of next year’s Dem Primary. Stay tuned!
Of course, there are already rumors that Rep. Jackson Lee will step down to take a post in the State Department with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, so who knows what next March will look like. I can’t always decipher Campos’ oblique references, but I think the “long time state representative” in question is Rep. Sylvester Turner, whose initial reaction was “Sheila-Jackson Lee is the Congresswoman of the 18th Congressional district, if she leaves, let’s talk again”, and who now says he’d definitely run to replace her if she stepped down. Never hurts to be prepared, I guess.
For what it’s worth, I’m perfectly happy to have Rep. Jackson Lee where she is, and that I’d vote for her over any of the potential challengers I’ve heard of, and almost certainly over the ones I haven’t heard of yet. In addition, Carl Whitmarsh passed along the following from HGLBT Caucus President Kris Banks:
As president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, let me say that our community is proud to call Congresswoman Jackson Lee a faithful friend. The Congresswoman has always stood up for our community, and we appreciate that and will not forget it.
There was a longer an more emphatic email that followed this one as well. Don’t go writing her political obituary just yet, that’s all I’m saying.
SJL works very hard to get face time in front of the camera. The talking heads at NBC were quick to note that tonight. But if one of her constituents wants something simple, like tix to a White House tour or something more complex, like appointment to a service academy, who will have any confidence that her office can do the job?