State Rep. , D-Carrollton, announced Tuesday she鈥檚 running to replace U.S. Rep. , D-Dallas, kicking off her campaign with a significant show of support from inside her party.
In an announcement video, Johnson highlighted her experience as an LGBTQ Texan, mother, lawyer and state legislator who unseated a Republican in 2018.
鈥淔rom every table 鈥� the kitchen, to the courtroom, and in the Texas Legislature 鈥� I already know how to get the job done and win the toughest battles,鈥� Johnson said, adding that she is running to 鈥渢urn the tables in Washington and make government work for you.鈥�
Johnson joins a crowded Democratic primary to succeed Allred, who is giving up his solidly blue seat to challenge U.S. Sen. next year. Other Democrats who have announced campaigns include Dallas trauma surgeon Brian Williams, Dallas civil-rights attorney Justin Moore and prior North Texas congressional candidates Sandeep Srivastava and Jan McDowell.
Johnson鈥檚 campaign has been long anticipated, and she begins with a list of notable endorsers. They include the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, the Human Rights Campaign and state Reps. of Dallas and of Austin; and U.S. Reps. Ritchie Torres of New York and Mark Takano of Wisconsin. Torres and Takano are co-chairs of the Congressional Equality Caucus.
Johnson has also assembled a finance committee with over 60 members. Its chair is Morgan Cox, the Dallas-based chair of the Human Rights Campaign board of directors.
Johnson appears to be the only Democratic member of the Legislature who will run for the seat. Some others from the area, like Reps.and , have already ruled out running.
Johnson鈥檚 decision to run for Congress opens up her state House seat in northwest Dallas County. Shortly after Johnson announced her congressional campaign, Dallas lawyer Cassandra Hernandez announced she would run to succeed Johnson in Texas House District 115, which favors Democrats. Hernandez ran last year for a nearby state House district, losing in a Democratic primary runoff.
This article originally appeared in at .
