Chet Edwards For Congress

April 20, 2008

Chet Edwards safe in 2008, watchers say

Waco Tribune Herald
By David Doerr | Tribune-Herald staff writer

Four years ago, Republicans appeared to have the wind at their backs in their efforts to oust long-term Democratic target U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards.

Republicans were successful in 2003’s bitterly fought mid-decade redistricting battle, which forced the Waco Democrat to run in a mostly new district with a large number of voters who weren’t familiar with him. Edwards was also paired against a well-funded and competitive Republican for whom the district had been designed.

But political winds have shifted over the last four years, causing national and local political handicappers to forecast that the race for Edwards’ district — Texas’ 17th Congressional District, official residence of President Bush — won’t even be competitive.

“They have thrown everything, including the kitchen sink, at Chet Edwards and he has beat them,” said Thomas Myers, a Baylor University political science professor. “There are very few named Republicans that will take the Republican nomination because they figure, as most objective people do, they will be soundly defeated.”

February 3, 2008

Waco Trib: Edwards' campaign war chest swamps challenger's

Waco Tribune
By David Doerr

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, reported last week having more than $1 million to spend on his re-election campaign as of the end of 2007, while his opponent acknowledged having less than $5,000.

Edwards, a nine-term congressman, had $1,016,900 in the bank, according to federal campaign reports filed Thursday. Rob Curnock, who signed up to run for office as a Republican on the last day of filing, Jan. 2, did not file a campaign finance report because he had not raised the $5,000 that would require him to complete a report.

The experts agree, Edwards' 2006 Campaign named best in Texas, one of top 10 in country.

Mike Hailey: "U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards of Waco will be the most powerful member of the Texas delegation to Congress when the new term gets under way in January."

Chet says "This would not have been possible without the tireless support of thousands of supporters and volunteers across the 17th District. Thank you!"

washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog< | November 1, 2006

The Ten Best Incumbent Campaigns

Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas): Even in a cycle where the national landscape heavily favors Democrats, Edwards should be in more trouble than he currently finds himself. He has President Bush as a constituent and his central Texas district went for the president with 70 percent in 2004. Republicans were initially high on GOP nominee Van Taylor thanks to his wealth and military credentials, but the party watched as Edwards quickly discredited the Republican as a carpet-bagger. This isn't Edwards's first rodeo. His campaign skills were also on display in 2004 when he was the lone Democratic incumbent targeted by the Texas "re-redistricting" plan to survive.

Best Congressional Campaign | Chet Edwards

U.S. House (D)

The National Republican Congressional Committee has been a model of perserverance and put a lot of people to work on both sides of the aisle with its perennial campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards in a Central Texas district that's tailor-made for the GOP. The GOP has poured vast sums of money into its quest to oust the Waco Democrat from Congress. It's attacked him repeatedly as a liberal, recycled candidates, put Texas A&M in his district and sent a powerful state lawmaker into battle against him on a map whose design had been personally overseen by Tom DeLay to ensure Edwards' extinction.

Download the County by county final results for TX Distrct 17

This was Chet’s 25th Westfest parade!

September 2, 2006

Click on an image to enlarge
Chet, Lea Ann and their two sons riding in the annual Westfest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 2nd	Chet meeting with local residents.	Onlookers waved Chet fans all along the parade route.