By Greg Giroux CQ-Roll Call
Texas businessman Francisco Quico" Canseco proved persistence can pay off winning the Republican runoff election for a Texas House seat. Canseco twice an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in the past defeated ex-CIA official Will Hurd to win a place on the November ballot.
With about 90 percent of precincts reporting in the 23rd House district Canseco led Hurd by 53 percent to 47 percent. The Associated Press called the contest for Canseco who will face Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez (D) in the general election.
Hurd narrowly led Canseco 34 percent to 32 percent in a five-candidate primary on March 2 that produced no outright majority-vote winner.
In the second round of the primary campaign
Canseco emphasized his business background and his Hispanic ethnicity in a district where about two-thirds of residents are Hispanic. Hurd touted his familiarity with national security issues and built a network of supporters with ties to Texas A&M University where he was once the student body
president.
In the states other GOP runoff Tuesday businessman Bill Flores easily beat businessman Rob Curnock in the 17th district where Rep. Chet Edwards (D) is seeking re-election.
Flores was the better-funded candidate and had the backing of the former rivals who finished third and fourth in the primary.
