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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Gang of 11

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The Gang of 11, or ABC (Anybody but Craddick) Republicans, refers to 11 GOP legislators who defected from House Speaker Tom Craddick in the 2009 race for speaker. The group included original defectors from 2007, plus newly minted members who joined up to plot strategy to oust Craddick. The gang wound up choosing a "consenus candidate" on the night of Jan. 2, 2009, to try to topple Craddick.

The group argued that Craddick had abused his authority as leader of the Texas House.

The consenus candidate, state Rep. Joe Straus, R-Alamo Heights, was able to quickly gather the support needed to win the speaker race. Craddick dropped out of the race before the 2009 legislative session opened days later.  

The gang of 11 included state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie; state Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano; state Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana; state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth; state Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview; state Rep. Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock; state Rep. Edmund Kuempel, R-Seguin; state Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland; state Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands; state Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton; and Straus.

After Straus was elected speaker, the members of the gang were rewarded with choice committee assignments.

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