Blanco endorsed by fellow Texas Dems to run for state Senate seat opened by Rodrguez retirement

Texas State Sen. Jos Rodrguez, an El Paso Democrat, announced Friday that he would not seek re-election to the upper chamber in 2020. Now, a delegation of three of the four remaining El Paso area Texas state representatives are endorsing and encouraging State Rep. Csar Blanco to run for his seat.

In an email statement sent to the media on Saturday, House Speaker Pro Tem Joe Moody (D-El Paso) offered his support for Blanco saying, “the people of District 29 deserve a strong, effective leader who will put them first and deliver on their priorities. Csar Blanco and I have spent three sessions fighting together for El Paso in Austin, and I can tell you that’s who he is and what he does. I’m proud to call him a friend, and I know we would all be proud to call him senator.”

The statement also included endorsements from State Representative Mary Gonzlez (D-Clint), State Representative Art Fierro (D-El Paso) and Chairman Poncho Nevrez (D-Eagle Pass).

Rodrguez was first elected in 2010 to represent Senate District 29. The district, which hugs the Texas-Mexico border, is considered historically Democratic; it covers El Paso, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties.

Blanco serves as chair of the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee. As yet, he has made no official announcement of his intentions to run for the state Senate seat.