Texas GOP lawmaker Will Hurd retiring

[highplainsdem]

Source: The Hill

Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), the only African-American Republican in the House of Representatives, announced Thursday night that he will not seek re-election in 2020.

"I have made the decision to not seek reelection for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas in order to pursue opportunities outside the halls of Congress to solve problems at the nexus between technology and national security," Hurd said on Twitter.

-snip-

Hurd's abrupt decision to not seek re-election comes amid a period of flux inside the Republican Party. He becomes the sixth GOP lawmaker and third House Republican from Texas to announce his retirement in the past two weeks.

Rep. Mike Conaway, another GOP lawmaker from Texas, announced Wednesday that he would not seek re-election. Pete Olson also announced his retirement last month.

-snip-

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/455872-texas-gop-lawmaker-will-hurd-retiring

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I've edited the section above because I'd first posted it when it was only a two-paragraph developing story.

Hurd's tweet:

Link to tweet

His House website statement:

https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/editorials/rep-will-hurd-it-s-time-serve-my-country-different-way



Just over two weeks ago, Hurd called Trump's tweets racist and xenophobic:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142341598

[dem4decades]

1. He was half sane, no place for him in the Trump GOP.

[dlk]

2. Another Republican Bites the Dust

Seriously, how could any self-respecting African-American support Trump and his bigoted and racist policies, pronouncements and Tweets?

[dalton99a]

3. Gina Ortiz Jones lost to him by less than a percentage point

[bearsfootball516]

6. Cook Political Report said that Hurd is likely the only Repub that could hold the seat

It moves to lean Democratic now.

[Ilsa]

4. How many Rs are bowing out now?

A couple of dozen?

[George II]

5. Another good shot at gaining a seat - Hurd is a moderate republican. I almost like him....

...except when it got down and dirty he hung with the republicans.

[Va Lefty]

7. They don't like being in the minority

[Recursion]

8. TX-23 is 74% urban and 55% Hispanic

Hope we've got somebody in the wings there.

[herding cats]

9. Gina Ortiz Jones Is running for the seat again.

She's the one who only lost by around 1,100 votes to him last time. I expect this to be a Dem pickup in 2020. Since the GOP don't have a viable replacement for Hurd, I see this as freeing up funding for other potential flips for us.