U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall bests 5 challengers in bid for 16th term

The North Texas congressional delegation held off challenges in Republican primaries, many beating back Tea Party opponents.

And 86-year-old U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Rockwall, beat five contenders in his bid for a 16th term representing Rockwall County, part of Collin County and northeast Texas.

No Democrats in North Texas had contested congressional primaries.

Dozens of Republican candidates, including most challengers, tried to appeal to voters energized by the still maturing Tea Party movement. While all of the challengers lost, ousting incumbents wasn’t the only objective, said Dallas Tea Party leader Ken Emanuelson.

“Our job is to educate people and to get people to the polls,” he said. “We tell everybody to look at the candidates. If the incumbent is the right person, then vote for him.”

Hall’s closest challenger was Steve Clark of Heath, who spent more than $300,000 of his own money through mid-February. This was one of the closest primaries in recent years for Hall, who switched parties before the 2004 primary.

“The difference was, I’ve been on the floor of the House till midnight every night working against that health care bill,” Hall said. “I’ve had to be up there doing my job. I was afraid this time.”

Clark tried to appeal to Tea Party voters, as did another challenger, Jerry Ray Hall, who filed to run as “Jerry Ray (Tea) Hall.” Clark said he and Ralph Hall aligned on most issues. But he said it is time for Hall, the oldest member of the House, to step aside.

Click here to continue reading.