House Commerce Committee member Ralph Hall, R-Texas, lost...

House Commerce Committee member Ralph Hall, R-Texas, lost his primary race in a runoff vote Tuesday to former U.S. attorney and Heath, Texas, mayor John Ratcliffe. The vote was 52.8 percent to 47.2 percent. Hall’s tenure in the House, initially as a Democrat, began in 1981. Hall was a rumored candidate to be chairman of the Commerce Committee four years ago (CD May 27/10 p2). He subsequently became chairman of the Science Committee.