Due to dramatic population growth, Tarrant County has gained another seat in the Texas House – the new District 101. While redistricting has yet to be settled – there are numerous pending lawsuits challenging the validity of these districts due to the discriminatory and unfair manner in which Republicans drew the new maps – I was proud to announce my candidacy for District 101 in case the Tarrant County portion of the map stands.
District 101 is a microcosm of Texas – it’s a diverse community, made up of hard-working people who want the best for their children and their families. Including much of east and south Arlington and the Tarrant County portion of Grand Prairie, District 101 truly represents the values, ideas, and aspirations of all Texans, not just those offered by Rick Perry and out-of-touch politicians in Austin.
District 101 is truly representative of the diversity of Texas:
District 101 is also a solidly Democratic district — in fact, in 2008, President Obama received 62% of the vote here. District 101 deserves a state representative who will be a strong and effective voice for the priorities we share – more jobs, good schools, affordable health care, dignity, and fairness for all Texans – priorities that are currently being ignored in Austin.
With your help, we can give District 101 a unified voice – a unified voice for voters who are fed up with draconian cuts to our children’s public education, insensitive attacks on women’s health care, and irresponsible accounting tricks that only worsen our state’s budget crisis.
Over one-third of District 101 was previously in District 96 – an area I proudly represented in the Texas House from 2009 until 2011 – and I look forward to working again on behalf of families, teachers, veterans, and small business owners. Lisa and I have deep ties to Arlington, having lived there for almost a decade, and we are excited to be a part of a community that reflects the Democratic values that I’ve been fighting for since my days at the University of Texas. Over the next few months, through conversations with you, your family, your friends, and your neighbors, I’m looking forward to helping unite our diverse new district under the same Democratic priorities and principles that we all share.
Since announcing my candidacy earlier this month, I continue to be humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement I’ve received. I hope you will sign up to volunteer or contribute to the campaign when you visit my website. Your time and your talent are critical in the work that lies ahead. I update my Facebook page frequently, so please check in daily for the latest campaign news and follow me on Twitter.
With your help, we can win this race and build a better future for all Texans.