State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez Drops Out Of Senate Race

AUSTIN, TX — State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez announced Monday he has dropped out of the race for Texas State Senate against former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, saying he will instead retain his seat representing District 51 in the Texas House of Representatives.

Rodriguez and Eckhardt had sought to succeed former state Sen. Kirk Watston in the Texas Senate, and were poised to compete for the seat in an upcoming special election this fall. The two emerged as top vote getters in a six-way race on July 14, but were then poised to square off in a special election to determine the victor after neither secured a majority of the ballots.

With Rodriguez dropping out of the race, Eckhardt now will succeed Watson in the state Senate. In a prepared statement, Rodriguez said he will instead focus his efforts on building a Democratic majority in the Texas House.

“I’ve spent most of my life fighting for progressive values as a Texas Democrat," Rodriguez began in a prepared statement issued on Monday. "As a person of color in a consistently minority party, it has rarely been easy, but as a senior House member I’ve managed to expand free school breakfast to Texas children, create economic opportunities for underserved communities, and help stave off the worst Republican policies, to name just a few proud moments."

The same vigor that prompted him to reflexively pursue Watson's seat ended up being the same motivation now fueling his resolve to build a Democratic majority, Rodriguez said.

"When my friend and mentor Kirk Watson decided to step away from the Texas Senate to begin the next chapter in his distinguished public-service career, my gut told me to follow in his footsteps by seeking his Senate seat. But, as Kirk showed us with his transition to founding Dean of the Hobby School of Public Affairs this spring, leadership and service to the community can take many avenues. It’s not the title of the office that matters, but one’s commitment to the cause."

Sweeping legislative changes taking place at the hands of the GOP majority at the state Legislature prompted Rodriguez to pivot away from the runoff to focus on building a Democratic majority, he said.

“This year, we have the first chance in a generation to forge a Democratic majority in a critical and historic session that will determine the future of Texas. From relieving the public health and economic crises, to drawing fair maps in redistricting, to budgeting that ensures all Texans have an equal shot to get ahead, to social justice reform policies meant to increase fairness and opportunity, this January’s session of the Texas Legislature will be the most critical we have faced."

That need for greater political equity is the motive for his dropping out of the race with Eckhardt, he said: "For that reason, I have decided to forego the runoff for Senate and focus my efforts on winning a Democratic majority and promoting an aggressive, progressive agenda in the Texas House. I will be working hard for District 51 and the entire state, pushing a policy agenda that includes strong public schools, increased access to health care, gun violence prevention, meaningful criminal justice reform and policies that respect the dignity of every Texan. And to help ensure the success of that agenda, I will redouble my longtime efforts to help Texas elect more legislators of color."

For her part, Eckhardt expresssed admiration for her erstwhile challenger. She wrote on Twitter that she looked forward to working him on their common goal of increasing Democratic representation across the Texas political landscape.

"I have deep respect for Representative Rodriguez and the race he ran," Eckhardt wrote. "I look forward to joining forces with him in the next session to advance our shared progressive values for Bastrop and Travis Counties and for Texas."

As news spread of the development, congratulatory notes poured in for Eckhardt. Sen. Beverly Powell, a Democrat who has represented District 10 in the Texas Senate since last year, welcomed her into the fold: "Congratulations to @sarah_eckhardt on your election to the State Senate!" Powell wrote with palpable enthusiasm. "There will now be 10 strong women representing Texans in the Senate — the most that have ever served. I am looking forward to fighting for Texas families by your side."

In ending his statement, Rodriguez thanked those who supported his now-ended Senate run: “Our campaign for Senate was elevated by hundreds of progressive activists, labor unions, Democratic clubs, community advocates and young leaders. I am truly grateful for such passionate, grassroots support from my fellow Democrats in Travis and Bastrop counties, and I’m confident in the future of our Party thanks to good friends like these.

"I am so proud of what my campaign team accomplished, against many odds, and I promise that their spirit and goals will continue to have a home in my Capitol office. And finally, I'm grateful to my wonderful family, who helped me throughout the campaign with love, prayer and cheerful volunteerism.“I congratulate Sarah Eckhardt on her performance in the election, and I wish her well. As Dean of the Travis County delegation, I look forward to working with her to carve a progressive path forward for our shared community.”

Rodriguez had been under increasing pressure to end his Senate bid and focus instead on his efforts in the House, where he has served since 2003. Eckhardt nearly won the previous special election outright despite the crowded field, taking 49.7 percent of the vote compared to 34 percent for Rodriguez. Watson's old seat is historically Democratic, covering Bastrop County and portions of Travis County.