U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, has opted not to seek another term in the House and will instead run for Tarrant County judge.
Veasey said in a statement his decision was rooted in where he can best serve the people of Tarrant County, uniting communities and expanding economic opportunities.
“I’m not running away from a fight,” Veasey said. “I’m running toward the next battle.”
Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair Allison Campolo said Veasey’s decision sets up a three-way primary contest that includes Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons and business owner Millennium Woods Jr.
Political Points
Campolo said it will be the marquee race among Tarrant County contests, with incumbent Republican Tim O’Hare seeking reelection.
“Here in Tarrant County we could not be more interested in anything other than county judge and making sure that we unseat Tim O’Hare is top of mind,” Campolo said.
Related
Veasey has represented District 33 since its inception in 2013, but he began looking at other options after the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature redrew the district to shed all of its Tarrant County precincts.
His Fort Worth home is now in the Republican-controlled District 25.
That district is represented by Willow Park Republican Roger Williams. Members of Congress are required to live in Texas, but not necessarily the district they represent.
That means Veasey could have run in District 30, which contains over 200,000 Tarrant County residents, many of whom were formerly in District 33.
Most of the district, however, is in Dallas County.
Running in District 30 would have meant a primary fight with Dallas minister Frederick Haynes III, leader of Friendship-West Baptist Church, who on Monday filed for the seat.