The tally is unofficial until certified.
Sheffield had an obvious advantage, bearing the GOP banner in a conservative county that has elected Republicans in that seat for more than 20 consecutive years.
But pundits say radio, name recognition and shoe leather also played an important role.
“I really think this race was won over the summer with Ralph knocking on over 10,000 doors,” Republican strategist Ted Delisi said. “He was like a laser beam going after general election voters.”
Delisi said the primary election in March, followed by the contentious runoff against Martha Tyroch, steeled Sheffield for the final push against the well-financed and politically savvy Murphey.
“This is someone who has never run for public office before, and let’s be honest, over the last year he’s gotten a trial by fire in Central Texas politics,” Delisi said.
That trial by fire included attacks about his problems with tax liens, and claims he flip-flopped on his stand on immigration and would increase gas taxes. But on Tuesday, voters rejected those charges.
Delisi said those two early campaigns paid dividends in the general election.
“It helped Ralph understand what it means to run a winning campaign and the amount of work that goes into it. And I think it helped our entire team.”
With an open seat here in Bell County, money flowed into both candidates’ coffers, but ultimately didn’t play a role. Still, Delisi said Sheffield was shrewd to buy more radio time than Murphey because he more effectively reached rural parts of the district and other workers.
And the ads that Murphey ran, on TV and in mailers, were ineffective when Murphey turned up the heat. Dr. David Holcomb, a University of Mary Hardin-Baylor political science professor, said Murphey was left little choice because he was playing catch-up from the start.
“This was Murphey’s strategy because he felt like he had to be aggressive to be competitive in this district,” Holcomb said. “He was going to have to do some things that were going to raise some questions in the minds with even Republicans in the district. He was mentored by Chet Edwards and Chet knows how to run a tough campaign.”
And Delisi, the son of nine-term District 55 state representative Dianne White Delisi, said Murphey’s mailers missed their mark.
“Sam’s TV ads were all about Ralph,” Delisi said. “One of the things you do, when you always talk about your opponent, you drive your opponent’s name ID up.”
After election night results rolled in from across the state, Republicans clung to a tenuous House majority - 76-74. But an election in Dallas County could flip to the Democrats because the Republican incumbent, Mary Harper-Brown won by only 25 votes and election officials are now counting provisional ballots. According to The , a final decision is not expected until Monday.
And that race emphasizes for Republicans the value of Sheffield’s victory. Gov. Rick Perry called Sheffield on Tuesday night with congratulations.
