In the year 2000, Lundgren, a Democrat, made a bid for Texas House Of Representatives in District 130, which is known nation-wide as one of the "safest" republican districts in any state. The Texas legislature is a citizens legislature which meets for 180 days during odd numbered years.
Lundgren refused all campaign donations in a city dripping with big money contributors who were more than willing to hedge their bets by putting money on his candidacy. Lundgren's voice for campaign finance reform was met with silence by would-be contributors. Why support a candidate that can't be bought, Right?
Political editors at the conservative Houston Chronicle, were obviously distressed after interviewing Lundgren by phone and learning of his platform. They decided the republic could be preserved only if they announced to their readers that the winner of the republican primary in District 130 would be unopposed for the seat in the fall general election cycle, a stance the Chronicle maintained and refused to correct until the last days of the spring primary season after the ballots were printed, proving once again, that in Texas, politics is a contact sport.
Lundgren spent little on the race while these tactics were creating a backlash in his favor because Lundgren garnered almost 1/3 of the vote, a surprising 15,000+ votes in the general election. He has made a committment to run for the seat again.
