Texas Rep. Marc Veasey leaving Congress to pursue Democratic bid for Tarrant County judge seat

Texas Rep. Marc Veasey announced he’s not seeking reelection, aiming instead for the Democratic nomination for Tarrant County judge.

His decision follows moves by fellow Texas Democrats: Rep. Jasmine Crockett launching a Senate bid and Rep. Julie Johnson running for Mr. Veasey’s newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District.

“For more than 13 years, I have had the profound honor of serving North Texans in the United States House of Representatives. Representing the communities that raised me, believed in me, and trusted me with their hopes has been the privilege of my lifetime,” Mr. Veasey said in a statement posted to social media. 

Shortly before Monday’s 6 p.m. filing deadline, Mr. Veasey said he decided to seek the Tarrant County judgeship.

“Let me be clear: I’m not stepping back from the fight. I’m stepping into a new one,” he said.

Texas’ congressional map was redrawn by Republicans to net them as many as five additional U.S. House seats.

The Supreme Court ruled last week that Texas can use its new map for the 2026 midterm elections, overturning a lower court decision that blocked it.

Hours after Ms. Crockett’s Senate campaign announcement, Mr. Veasey announced his career-changing move.

Joining Ms. Johnson in the race for the new district is her predecessor in Congress, Colin Allred.

“Texans deserve fair maps — these racist, gerrymandered maps have no home in our state. Make no mistake: I’m running for Congress in CD-33 to continue delivering results for the people of North Texas,” Ms. Johnson said Monday on social media.

Mr. Veasey was expected to campaign for Ms. Crockett’s current seat, which includes a piece of Tarrant County, as she teased a bid for the Senate. He would have faced opposition from Ms. Crockett’s pastor, Frederick D. Haynes III, who announced Monday he’s running as a Democrat in her 30th District.

Mr. Veasey, of Fort Worth, became the first Black member of Congress from Texas’ third-largest county in 2013. 

“Tarrant County is at a crossroads,” Mr. Veasey said. “I’ve seen firsthand how racially gerrymandered maps were designed to weaken the power of Black and Latino voters in North Texas — communities I have spent my entire career fighting for. The people here deserve leadership grounded in truth, service and respect — not division, extremism and political stunts.”

Republican Judge Tim O’Hare holds the Tarrant County seat and is running for reelection in 2026. His spokesperson described Mr. Veasey as “soft on crime, weak on border security and supportive of higher taxes.”

In his announcement, Mr. Veasey said, “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.”