Mayor drops out to replace DeLay

Mayor ends candidacy for DeLay's seat - Yahoo! News Mayor ends candidacy for DeLay's seat By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press Writer2 hours, 14 minutes ago Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace withdrew Monday as a Republican write-in candidate for the seat vacated by the resignation of former House Majority leader Tom DeLay. His action left the Texas GOP united behind one write-in candidate, Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, who had won the party's endorsement last week. Wallace had previously indicated he would stay in the race despite the party's snub. "What I am choosing to do at this time is unite with the Republican Party behind one candidate," Wallace said at a news conference. "There is no way that two write-in candidates could win. It would be very difficult and divisive to the Republican Party." Wallace said the party did not pressure him to withdraw. DeLay won the GOP primary in March but resigned from Congress in June as he faced increasing scrutiny over ethical troubles, including state money laundering charges and fallout from his association with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The state Republican Party declared DeLay ineligible, setting up a plan for party insiders to choose a replacement candidate to face Democrat Nick Lampson, a former congressman. However, Democrats won a federal appellate court ruling that DeLay could only withdraw from the race and that any Republicans wishing to replace him would have to mount write-in campaigns. Sekula-Gibbs, a dermatologist who is serving her third and final term on city council, faces a tough campaign against Lampson, who has been running steadily and has raised about $2 million while Republicans were occupied with fighting the ballot issue in court. Democrats need 15 seats to gain the House majority. Only four people have been elected to Congress as write-in candidates.