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State Rep. César Blanco to run for Texas Senate

He is vying to replace state Sen. José Rodríguez, who announced Friday he is not seeking reelection.

by Patrick Svitek

At a press conference at the Texas Capitol, state Rep. César Blanco, D-El Paso, addresses the decision taken by the Trump Administration to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census.
State Rep. César Blanco Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune

State Rep. César Blanco, D-El Paso, is running for the seat being vacated by state Sen. José Rodríguez.

In a video published Monday, Blanco alluded to the deadly mass shooting last month in El Paso, and said El Paso and West Texas "need a fighter."

"Now more than ever, El Paso needs leaders willing to stand up to those that try to turn our community into a political punching bag by promoting dangerous rhetoric and hateful policies meant to tear us apart," Blanco said.

Rodríguez, another El Paso Democrat, announced Friday he was not seeking reelection, and Blanco quickly emerged as a potential candidate for the seat. The Latino Victory Fund launched a draft campaign that night to convince him to run, and on Saturday morning, four lawmakers in the Senate district endorsed him, including three of his four colleagues from El Paso's House delegation.

Blanco's Senate run will create a vacancy in his House District 76, which he has represented since 2015. Both the Senate and House seats are in solidly Democratic territory.

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Patrick Svitek’s staff photo

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