/ Source: The Associated Press
Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday he will not call an emergency special election to replace Republican Rep. Tom DeLay, meaning the suburban Houston congressional seat will be left unfilled until November.
DeLay, who is under indictment on campaign finance charges, announced this week that he will resign sometime before mid-June.
The Democratic candidate for the seat, former Rep. Nick Lampson, had called on the governor to set a May 13 special election so the district would be represented after DeLay leaves.
Perry, Republican, refused without elaborating. However, the election of a Democrat now could give the Democratic Party a leg up in November.
A committee of Republican precinct chairmen will choose a new GOP candidate.