By SUZANNE GAMBOA

WASHINGTON - The Republicans had the money. They had the experience, and they had the name recognition. But in the end, the Democrats had the momentum.

Voters in the vast 23rd Congressional District in Texas joined in the Democratic momentum when 54 percent of them picked Democrat Ciro Rodriguez over seven-term Republican incumbent Henry Bonilla in Tuesday's runoff.

"In terms of congressional races, obviously it has been a very bad year, and this is a continuation of it," said Reggie Bashur, an Austin Republican consultant. "A lot of voters were persuaded by arguments that Congress was going Democrat and it would be wise to elect a Democrat to join the majority."

Democrats took control of Congress in midterm elections. With Rodriguez's win, there are now 233 Democrats and 202 Republicans in the House. Texas added two Democrats: Rodriguez and Nick Lampson, who won the open race to replace former Rep. Tom DeLay.

Bonilla took 69 percent of the vote in 2004 over a lesser-known Democrat. But that win came in a district drawn to assure Bonilla's win.

"Republicans have been a rubber stamp for this president, and people want a change," said Brendan Daly, spokesman for soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat.

As a reward, Rodriguez was named to the Appropriations Committee, where Bonilla was a member and subcommittee chairman.