Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) has decided against running for reelection after his district was one of several in Texas redrawn to favor Republicans.
The seven-term Democrat is instead running for Tarrant County judge, making him the latest in a stream of lawmakers fleeing Congress, including over three dozen members in the House.
“This decision is about where I can best serve the people of Tarrant County,” Veasey said in a statement to the Texas Tribune. “It’s about strengthening our party, opening the door for new leadership and ensuring that our community continues to thrive.”
The decision is viewed by political insiders as a surprise, given Veasey was expected to run for the House seat being vacated by Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), who recently jumped into the Texas Senate race.
Crockett’s 30th Congressional District, like Veasey’s in the 33rd, was one of five districts that Texas lawmakers redrew this year to make the seats more favorable to Republicans.
Since the redistricting plan significantly changed the lines of Veasey’s district, Veasey eyed a bid in Crockett’s newly redrawn district, because it contained some of his old territory in Tarrant County.
In turn, former Democratic Texas Rep. Colin Allred and Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX) formed plans to represent Veasey’s new district, with the former launching a campaign this week to compete against Johnson in the primary.
Veasey decided this week to opt out of a tough primary battle. He is set to launch a campaign to oust Republican Judge Tim O’Hare, who narrowly won his first campaign in 2022 with 53% of the vote. Veasey is joined in the Democratic primary by Tarrant County Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons.
“Tarrant County is at a crossroads,” Veasey said. “The people here deserve leadership grounded in truth, service and respect — not division, extremism and political stunts. … I refuse to sit on the sidelines while Tim O’Hare drags this community backward. I’m not running away from a fight — I’m running toward the next battle.”
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Veasey’s departure from Congress embodies the trend set this year by dozens of lawmakers declining a bid for reelection ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Many of them are aiming for higher office, such as governor or attorney general, instead of returning to the House.