Two days ahead of his resignation from Congress, the Texas GOP has declared Congressman Tom Delay ineligible to be on the ballot as a candidate for Congress. The reason? He is no longer a resident of Texas.

Texas Republicans took a key official step Wednesday toward replacing U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on the November ballot, as the state GOP declared him ineligible to run because he has moved his official residence to Virginia.

Friday is the former House majority leader's last day in Congress.

Republican Party of Texas Chairwoman Tina Benkiser notified Republican county chairs in the 22nd Congressional District that they can begin the process for selecting a new nominee. DeLay's successor as GOP nominee will be selected by a four-member committee of precinct chairs representing each of the counties in the district — Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris.

County chairs plan to call meetings before the end of the month. Once each of the counties has selected its representative, they will meet to choose the new Republican nominee.

As one of those precinct chairs, I wonder how fast the process will play out. I have been figuring that meetings could not begin until at least Thursday of next week (it takes five days in Harris County to call an emergency meeting) -- but this date allows for a meeting as early as Monday. I'll let you know when I know.

Now I do have one little constitutional quibble here. If Delay has already established himself as a Virginia resident, shouldn't that have caused the automatic forfeiture of office? After all, a congressman does have to be a resident of the state he represents. As a practical matter it is irrelevant, as he will likely cast no votes -- and certainly none where his vote is the deciding matter. But it is an interesting intellectual question to turn over in one's mind.

Posted by: Greg at 11:37 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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