Lone Star Project

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Making an Impact

“The Lone Star Project … hammers Republicans whenever it gets a chance, promoting strong local Democratic candidates and even bringing lawsuits.”
(Roll Call, Stuart Rothenberg,
March 12, 2009)

“Anyone who questions whether [The Lone Star Project] can make life difficult for a Republican legislator should talk to former Sen. Kim Brimer.”
(Austin American Statesman, February 17, 2009)

“[The Lone Star Project] is responsible for the aggressive stance the party has taken toward DeLay and other Lone Star State Republicans since the 2004 election.”
(The Washington Post, March 6, 2006)

"David Dewhurst has said most Texans don't have much sympathy "for someone who that can't fill out a two page [health insurance] application every six months".

The Democrat-supported Lone Star Project in Washington reported this week that Dewhurst failed to file necessary forms at least six times in recent years.
(San Antonio Expres News,, 4/12/2007)

"The Justice staff memo was obtained by the Lone Star Project ...The story broke the same day the U.S. Supreme Court was considering legal challenges to the plan brought by Democrats and minority groups."
(Houston Chronicle, 12/3/2005)

"The Texas chapter of the NAACP, along with the Lone Star Project, have analyzed the amicus brief filed by the Justice Department and have concluded, justifiably, that the Voting Rights section of the Justice Department is now controlled by partisan political appointees."
(Roll Call - Donna Brazile, 2/28/2006)

Lone Star Project 2006 Congressional Majority Calculator
Interactive Scorecard Tabulates Your Predictions

The country's two most respected congressional handicappers, The Rothenberg Political Report and The Cook Report, both now predict a new Democratic Majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Rothenberg Report, 8/29/2006, New York Times, 9/4/2006).

While the Lone Star Project remains cautious about making outright predictions about individual marginal districts, we agree that enough races are in play across the country, and there is enough momentum behind Democratic candidates, to give Democrats a better than even chance to claim a majority in the U.S. House. However, you don't have to rely on the analysis of others. Make your own prediction using the Lone Star Project 2006 Congressional Majority Calculator

Lone Star Project Congressional Majority Calculator

You can calculate the races in play and make your own predictions for control the U.S. House using the:

Lone Star Project Interactive
Congressional Scorecard

Narrow 15 Seat Margin Separates Parties in the US House
Democrats need to claim a net 15 seats in order to win a majority. At least 50 seats are in play and only 10 of those are currently held by Democrats. Over the next few weeks, both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) will make "cold blooded" assessments of which challengers have the best chance to win and which incumbents need assistance in order to fight off their challenger. The DCCC has done an excellent job of raising and protecting funds for the final weeks of the campaign and will go toe-to-toe with the NRCC assisting candidates that make the cut.

Texas Democrats May Contribute to New Majority
Democrats in Texas entered the '06 cycle on the defensive and in disarray. Now, 22 months later, a revived Texas Democratic Party, with strategic assistance from allies including the Lone Star Project, has repeatedly outflanked and outwitted the Texas GOP. Defying conventional wisdom, Democrats in Texas are on the offensive and will add to a new majority in Congress rather than lose any seats in Texas, picking up at least one, and as many as three, Texas congressional seats.

Then - January 2005
Flat and Defensive

Tom DeLay's redistricting scheme left six senior Democrats, including key political and policy leaders like Martin Frost and Charlie Stenholm, out of office.
Chet Edwards survived a close call and remained seriously endangered.
All incumbent congressional Republicans held seats where Bush won more than 59 percent of the vote and looked unbeatable.

Now - September 2006
Rebuilding and on Offense

Collapsing to legal and political pressure, Tom DeLay displayed stunning political and personal cowardice by quitting the House, leaving Texas, and retreating to the Washington, DC suburbs.
As a result of a bold, skillful and principled legal challenge by the Texas Democratic Party, the Tom DeLay/Rick Perry scheme to handpick DeLay's successor failed, leaving Democrat Nick Lampson facing only write-in opposition and poised to claim DeLay's abandoned CD22 seat.
Chet Edwards still has a tough race, but his Northeastern prep-school alumnus and Dallasite opponent, Van Taylor, has so far failed to connect in central Texas CD17, making Edwards the clear favorite. (Rothenberg Report, 8/29/2006)
The relentless challenge by Democrats, Hispanic advocacy groups and the Lone Star Project, ultimately led to the redrawing of the congressional map in South Texas, putting Congressional District 23, incumbent Henry Bonilla's seat, in play.
Promising newcomers are emerging like Shane Sklar in CD14 who has displayed impressive political talent and may be poised for an upset against tired and ineffective ideologue Ron Paul.

The Lone Star Project is an activity of the Lone Star Fund.

Contributions to this committee are not tax deductible. Federal law requires political committees to use our best efforts to report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer for each individual whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. The Lone Star Fund accepts federal contributions from individuals, partnerships, and other federal political committee of up to $5,000 per calendar year.

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