DeLay to remove name from ballot after Texas GOP loses court battle News
DeLay to remove name from ballot after Texas GOP loses court battle

[JURIST] Former US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay [JURIST news archive] will withdraw his name from the Texas ballot in this fall's congressional elections, a Republican strategist told AP on Tuesday. DeLay's move comes one day after US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia [OYEZ profile] denied a request [JURIST reports] from the Texas Republican Party to stay a federal appeals court ruling [text, PDF] preventing the party from replacing DeLay with another GOP candidate. According to the decision handed down last week by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit [official website], the state Republican Party cannot replace DeLay even though he now resides in Virginia because he could return to Texas before election day. Without a candidate on the ballot, the GOP could throw its hopes behind a write-in candidate to oppose Democrat Nick Lampson.

DeLay resigned from Congress [JURIST report] earlier this year after winning a March primary for his congressional seat. He is awaiting a Texas trial on money laundering and conspiracy charges [JURIST report] for allegedly using corporate money to fund legislative campaigns. AP has more. The Houston Chronicle has local coverage.

5:11 PM ET – In a statement released later Tuesday, DeLay said:

Earlier this year, I resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives and became a resident of the State of Virginia to establish my new business, and where I now legally reside, pay taxes and vote.

This decision was and is irrevocable, which I made clear from Day One.

My action was taken in accordance with Texas law, federal precedent and common sense. I felt it was my duty to allow Texas Republicans to choose a new candidate for the Fall Election Ballot. …

Unfortunately, the Federal courts have slammed the door shut on a fair ballot choice between two 22nd District residents representing our two major parties. …

Voters should be concerned. While judges are denying Texas voters a fair choice this Fall, the courts allowed the Democrat Party in New Jersey to withdraw Robert Torricelli and substitute Frank Lautenberg in a similar case just weeks before the 2002 U.S. Senate election.

Read DeLay's full statement.

THIS DAY @ LAW

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On May 1, 1707, the two Acts of Union went into effect, implementing the Treaty of Union and thereby uniting the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Union with Scotland Act was passed by the Parliament of England in 1706, and the Scottish Parliament promulgated the Union with England Act. Learn more about the Acts of Union from the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

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Learn more about the history of the labor movement in the United States, and visit the website of the AFL-CIO, the federation of America's labor unions, representing more than 13 million workers.