By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter
Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: For nearly a decade now, Republicans have dominated local and state politics. Hoping to reverse the trend, Democrats launched their multi-racial dream team of successful former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk, former comptroller John Sharp, and multimillionaire gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez. It didn't work.
Nate Crain, Dallas County Republican party chair: The year when Ron Kirk is on the ballot, Tony Sanchez is on the ballot, overwhelmingly Dallas chose to send Republicans back to office.
Zeeble: Nate Crain is the party chair of Dallas County Republicans.
Crain: The state of Texas supports President Bush. The second thing it says is Texas is a Republican state. I think Texas will be a Republican state for quite some time. But it's up to us Republican leaders to step forward and continue to take the message to the voters.
Zeeble: One of those Republican candidates who successfully took that message to voters yesterday was Jeb Hensarling. Beating opponent Ron Chapman, the first-time candidate captured the Fifth Congressional district seat.
Jeb Hensarling, Congressman-elect: I think the number one and two issues in the campaign were rebuilding the economy and supporting the President. I had a record as a small businessman, somebody who's helped create jobs and meet a payroll. I'm a conservative, have a history as a conservative, the district is conservative. Finally, I've had the honor of knowing the President for over 15 years. I think people wanted someone who' go up to Washington and support our President, and they knew I'd do it.
Zeeble: This election, Democrats also hoped a highly organized voter turnout would favor them - whether running against Jeb Hensarling in eleven counties or just in Dallas, for county judge. But losing Dallas County Judge candidate Harryette Ehrhardt said the effort wasn't good enough.
Harryette Ehrhardt: We had excellent turnout today and did very well. It's the early vote and mail-in vote that the Democrats traditionally lose, and we're going to have to learn how to do better on that than we do.
Zeeble: The Republican who defeated Ehrhardt for Dallas County Judge, Margaret Keliher, believes she won, in part, because her party was better at the basics.
Keliher: Grassroots efforts made the difference.
Zeeble: Grassroots efforts are where Democrats must now concentrate more of their effort for the future, according to Susan Hays, Dallas County Democratic party chair.
Susan Hays, Dallas County Democrat Party chair: We're just beginning to build our county organization. This will be an ongoing process and you will see us running stronger in 2004 and the future.
Zeeble: Hays was encouraged by some close Dallas races, but says she remains stumped by the overall failure of Democratic candidates. For KERA 90.1, I'm Bill Zeeble.
To contact Bill Zeeble, please send emails to bzeeble@kera.org.