U.S. House, Texas - 17th District
East central -- Waco, College Station, Bryan
2006: Rep.
Edwards can never be considered completely safe, considering his district voted more strongly for Bush in 2004 (69 percent) than any other now held by a House Democrat; the 17th even includes the president’s ranch in Crawford. But the veteran congressman maintains a center-right profile, has a beneficial seat on the Appropriations Committee and is an outspoken advocate of veterans’ benefits. He has formidable political skills, as well-funded Republican Taylor learned in losing a 2006 landslide. The lone Republican candidate is Rob Curnock, a video business owner who lost Republican primaries for the seat in 2000 and 2002.
Race Information
- Incumbent: Rep. Chet Edwards, D
- First Elected: 1990 (9th term)
- Last Elected: 2006 (58.12%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Race Forecast: Safe Democrat
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
The 17th begins south of Fort Worth and moves southeast mainly through fertile farmland to reach Bryan and College Station in Brazos County. On the way, it picks up Waco and George W. Bush’s “Western White House” in Crawford, both in centrally located McLennan County.
One-third of district residents live in Waco or surrounding McLennan County. Waco, which is the 17th’s largest city and the largest population center between Austin and Dallas, hosts Baylor University and a strong education sector. Defense-related firm L-3 Communications provides additional jobs in Waco.
The district jogs east and then southeast from Waco, meandering through sparsely populated counties and into Brazos, where the district’s southern portion is centered. College Station is home to Texas A&M University, which includes the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum and is a major employer here. Unlike the more-liberal University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M has a conservative agricultural and military tradition that favors GOP candidates.
Rapidly growing Johnson County, in the 17th’s northeastern corner, has become a bedroom community for Fort Worth and is home to some of the city’s southern suburbs. The county’s most populous city, Cleburne, and its neighboring communities rely on light manufacturing. Along the Squaw Creek Reservoir west of Johnson, a nuclear plant in Somervell County employs many district residents. Other energy concerns also are important to the district, especially in the northern counties that cover parts of the Barnett shale natural gas reservoir.
Bush’s connection to the area as well as redistricting prior to 2004 has given the district a distinct GOP lean; Bush took 69 percent of the 17th’s presidential vote in 2004. But Rep. Edwards’ comfortable 2006 re-election shows that conservative “Yellow Dog” Democrats and ticket splitters can still provide a winning margin for Democrats.
Major Industry
Agriculture, higher education, light manufacturing, defense
Cities
Waco, 113,726; College Station, 67,890; Bryan, 65,660; Cleburne, 26,005
Notable
A complex near Waco was the site of a deadly standoff in 1993 between federal agents and members of the Branch Davidian religious group.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 651,620
- Under 18: 25.4%
- Over 65: 11.8%
- Married: 55.5%
- Non-Hispanic White: 71%
- Black: 10%
- Hispanic: 15%
- Asian: 1%
- Foreign Born: 6.5%
- Language other than English: 14.9%
- Median Household Income: 35,253
- Owner Occupied Housing: 64.5%
- Income above $200k: 1.5
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collar: 57.2%
- Blue Collar: 27.3%
- Services: 15.6%
- Bachelor's Degree: 20%
- Graduate Education: 7.7%
- Civilian Veterans: 61,080
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | Chet Edwards (D) | 134,472 | 53% |
| Rob Curnock (R) | 115,468 | 45.5% | ||
| Gardner Osborne (LIBERT) | 3,843 | 1.5% | ||
| 2006 | general | Chet Edwards (D) | 92,478 | 58.1% |
| Van Taylor (R) | 64,142 | 40.3% | ||
| Guillermo Acosta (LIBERT) | 2,504 | 1.6% | ||
| 2004 | general | Chet Edwards (D) | 125,309 | 51.2% |
| Arlene Wohlgemuth (R) | 116,049 | 47.4% | ||
| Clyde Garland (LIBERT) | 3,390 | 1.4% | ||
| 2002 | general | Charles Stenholm (D) | 84,136 | 51.4% |
| Rob Beckham (R) | 77,622 | 47.4% | ||
| Fred Jones (LIBERT) | 2,046 | 1.2% | ||
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 30% | George W. Bush: 69% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 32% | George W. Bush: 68% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCINTYRE, DAVID H (R) | June 30, 2007 | $628.00 | $62,905.00 | ||||
| EDWARDS, CHET (D) | November 24, 2008 | $2,264,007.00 | $2,043,185.00 | $71,000.00 | $1,073,037.00 | $281,382.00 | |
| TAYLOR, NICHOLAS VANCAMPEN (R) | December 31, 2007 | $1,048.00 | $74,884.00 | $15.00 | |||
| CURNOCK, ROBERT JOHN (R) | November 24, 2008 | $104,847.00 | $104,437.00 | $91,870.00 | $408.00 | $5,125.00 | |
