It’s official and I wanted you to be among the first to know: I am running for re-election to continue my service representing the people of Texas House District 101.
I hope you will help Lisa and me get the next campaign off to a great start by joining us for our 2020 Campaign Kickoff on Wednesday, November 20 at Legal Draft Beer Company in Arlington. Watch your email for more details! 
I am very proud of the work we – District 101 constituents, my staff and me – have done, both in Austin and here at home in Arlington and Grand Prairie. We have fought for, and continue to fight for, the issues that matter most to our community – increasing funding for our neighborhood schools, improving access to affordable healthcare, adding common-sense regulations for payday lenders, making college more accessible, protecting our youngest and most vulnerable Texans, and fighting to expand civic participation.
As chair of the House Committee on Higher Education, I am in a unique position to continue my role as a strong voice for our local colleges and universities, including Tarrant County College and the University of Texas at Arlington. I have developed a strong partnership with these institutions and I look forward to continuing to work with them and other colleges and universities across Texas.
Since January 2017, I have led the House Democratic Caucus and have played a key role in developing policies to address our state’s most pressing issues – including helping to shape and pass the 2019 school finance reform law. During my time as Democratic Caucus Chair, House Democrats have not only been successful in passing good policy, but we’ve stopped many bad bills from becoming law, including a measure that would have further eroded voting rights and a Republican bill to raise the state sales tax, a move that would have disproportionately hurt low- and middle-income Texans.
During my time in the Texas House, we’ve accomplished a lot, but there’s much more to do.
Last year, you were instrumental in my efforts to raise funds to help elect other Democrats and in the end, we put more than $300,000 into those efforts. Not only did we gain significant ground in Tarrant County, our efforts helped pick up 12 seats in the Texas House. Now, Democrats are just 9 seats away from taking the majority!
For 2020, I am doubling down, with a plan to raise and spend even more to make sure we re-elect all House Democrats and pick up those 9 (or more!) seats. And this effort could not come at a more crucial time. When the Legislature convenes in 2021, it will be time to take up redistricting, which will determine the political trajectory of Texas – and perhaps the nation – for the next decade.
I am looking forward to all of these challenges ahead and I hope you are, as well. It is an incredible honor to represent House District 101 and I look forward to continuing to serve our constituents.
