Special election set for DeLay's seat

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry scheduled a special election to fill Tom DeLay's former congressional seat, setting it on Nov. 7, the same day as the general election.

The winner would serve until the new Congress is seated in January, the Houston Chronicle reported. If the same person wins both elections, he or she would have a few weeks seniority over other newcomers.

Perry changed his mind after first announcing there would be no special election. DeLay's seat has been empty since June.

DeLay, who won the Republican primary before he announced in April that he would leave Congress, has been forced to remain on the ballot. The other candidates include former Rep. Nick Lampson, a Democrat, and Libertarian Bob Smither, as well as Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, who is running as a write-in candidate with support from the Republicans.

Lampson and Sekula-Gibbs both plan to run in the special election, the Chronicle said.

DeLay is under investigation for alleged state campaign finance violations.