State Senator José Rodríguez (D – El Paso) announced his retirement from the Texas Senate yesterday, effective January 2021. Rodríguez will complete his fifth term representing Senate District 29, which includes El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties along the Texas-Mexico border.
“I am proud of my office’s accomplishments over the past nine years,” Rodríguez said. “Since 2011, we have passed more than 240 bills addressing education, health care, economic development, local governments, renewable energy, criminal justice, civil jurisprudence, public safety and the courts, ethics and government transparency, and veterans.”
Rodríguez’s retirement announcement comes well ahead of the December 9 filing deadline to run for office in 2020. One possible successor in the safely Democratic seat is El Paso state representative César Blanco, who currently chairs the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee.
In his announcement, Rodríguez heralded the rise of a new generation of leaders for Texas Democrats. “We are in a time of change, and I see a new generation of young leaders emerging, those who will carry on the fight for equality and opportunity for all Texans,” he said. “I’m moved to see young leaders who are proud of who they are, and who will not stand for our government being subverted into a tool for discrimination. I look forward to supporting these leaders in a different capacity.”
Rodríguez currently serves as Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He announced he would step down from that position at the end of this year, and will be succeeded by State Sen. Carol Alvarado (D – Houston).
Photo: José Rodríguez/ Facebook
