Oldest member of Congress loses in Texas runoff
(CNN) – Rep. Ralph Hall, the oldest elected official in Washington, lost a tough runoff battle in Texas Tuesday, making the 91-year-old Republican the first incumbent member of Congress to go down in defeat this primary season.
CNN projects former U.S. Attorney John Ratcliffe, an anti-establishment candidate, will beat Hall in the GOP contest for Texas’ 4th Congressional District, which is located in the northeastern portion of the state.
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Throughout his campaign, Ratcliffe, 48, called for "new leadership" and is promising to leave office after eight years. He had the backing of some powerful national conservative groups like Club for Growth and the Senate Conservatives Fund.
In the March primary, Hall brought in 45% of the vote - not enough to stave off a runoff against Ratcliffe, the second place finisher at 28%.
Hall was first elected to the House in 1980 and was vying for an 18th term, which he has said would have been his last. He lost despite having the backing of some tea party favorites, including retiring Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.
CNN's Paul Steinhauser and Dana Davidsen contributed to this report.
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Don't you think it's time another reason for term limits and no funded tax payers retirements or health care for any elected person.
Out with the old, in with the stupid.
the baggers took texas. what a mess . . The loonies are loose in the longhorn state
91-year old !!! ?....... I think he needs a rest. His role should have been more of advisory than active politicking. Karl Rove deserves to hear this. No wonder the GOPers are out of time of modern political concepts.
Sorry, Congress is not the the place for a 91 year old. I think these old guys, from BOTH parties, are doing it for the healthcare benefits. Anybody over 80 should get the boot.
Ratcliffe = Club for Growth and the Senate Conservatives Fund.
Hall = Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.
Nut's and Crazy's ?
We need term limits for Congress.
If we cant a maximum term limit for candidates we should have a compulsory retirement age of 75 or older than if 75 if you last elections expiry makes you older.
We need more younger more energetic people with up to date ideas and thinking to solve problems.
More to the point we need much more simple legislation based on principles of economics and Past jurisprudence... where the intent is clear. so many good thoughts get bogged down in the legal morass or molasses.
Regards,
Hodgson
Unbelievable. 91 years old? We definitely need term limits.
It's Texas. It doesn't matter how old these politicians are from the state of no regulations, the Canadian domestic terrorist, gopher and the oops governor.
C'mon 91 years old? Should have been retired YEARS ago.
--this nation not only needs "TERM-LIMITS" but also needs "AGE LIMITS" too. Pass this along with total gun-ban.
Someone said the Tea Party was dead....lol...more to come !
Good.
I want term limits on Congress, as well as the Presidency. The people must demand term limits to reduce the corruption in Congress.
The Presidency has term limits so should all elected officials.
wow 91 years old. Doesn't he have som elife beyond politics? 91 years old. man how time flies, hahahahaha.
Rick McDaniel
Good.
I want term limits on Congress, as well as the Presidency. The people must demand term limits to reduce the corruption in Congress.
May 28, 2014 08:23 am at 8:23 am |
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We have had term limits on the Presidency since after FDR. What color is the sky in your world?
@JohnQAmerica... I bet you look like the smartest guy in the room when you wear your tri corner hat to the town hall meeting.
The Tea Party taking over in Texas is the perfect example of the inmates running the asylum. Can't wait to see the look on all of those disenfranchised middle-aged white men's faces when the demographics change in that state.
Wes
obama is a disaster.
Then how would you describe all the other republican presidents, a train wreck ? because none of them are better than this president, bush was an idiot, the worst president ever.
Wow 91 years old, no wonder the republican party has the 17 century mentality.
They have been talking about term limits ever sense term limits was made word about 100 years ago ?
Not only term limits needed but I think age limits. 75 years old should be enough.
ED1
The Presidency has term limits so should all elected officials.
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There's are good reasons there's term limits on the Presidency, the most important of which is executive power to appoint justices to the Supreme Court. Without presidential term limits, a single president could effectively "stack" the SCOTUS and thus throw a monkey wrench into the delicate checks and balances between the branches.
JohnQAmerica
Someone said the Tea Party was dead....lol...more to come !
Every where else except Texas, and i am not very surprised, they elected rick perry, and bush so what's new
Fair, uh, pretty sure its to late, look at the political activists they call conservative judges, do you think citizens united was a good thing? Or eliminate all funding rules, that's where this ends, with the rich running the show.