Former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) announced he would not make another run at reclaiming the CD23 seat from U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio). Gallego, who served a single term in Congress before being defeated by Hurd in 2014 and again in 2016, established an exploratory committee in July. At the time, Gallego said he was “energized about 2018.”
Pete
Gallego
Gallego previously said ongoing redistricting litigation would not be a factor in his decision whether to run again in 2018. Last month, a panel of federal judges ruled two congressional districts needed to be redrawn, but CD23’s configuration was cleared after the judges found “no evidence of intentional discrimination/dilution.”
At least four other Democrats have taken a formal step toward challenging Hurd:
- Devin Fitzpatrick, a construction manager from Boerne
- Jay Hulings, a former prosecutor from San Antonio
- Gina Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer from San Antonio; and
- Rick Treviño, an educator from San Antonio who ran unsuccessfully for city council earlier this year.
In a tweet, Hulings praised Gallego, saying “Your friends and neighbors here in TX23 appreciate all you’ve done for us.”
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