“Together, we accomplished many great things. And we were looking forward to continuing our service through a re-election campaign focused on higher education opportunities, stronger public schools, access to healthcare, and workforce development,” Powell told supporters in a video on Wednesday.
“It has become clear, however, that my path to continuing this important work beyond my current term in office will lie outside the walls of the Texas Senate.”
Powell bemoaned the new lines drawn for Senate District (SD) 10 by the Texas legislature last year, calling it a “redistricting assault.” The senator repeated her accusations against her colleagues of racial gerrymandering and referenced that she was unable to secure a preliminary injunction in her lawsuit against the state over SD 10’s new composition.
According to a press release by Powell’s campaign, in January, a three-judge panel denied a preliminary injunction in the case. However, a trial in the case is scheduled for September in El Paso.
“In the meantime, the new map lines as determined in SB 4 will remain in effect for at least the November general election,” Powell said, referring to Senate Bill 4 in the third special session. “This new map thwarts the election prospects for any candidate who relies on a diverse voter coalition. Knowing this, I cannot in good faith ask the people of Texas to spend their time and hard-earned money on an unwinnable race.”
The Republican majority in the Texas legislature redrew SD 10 to be more favorable to a GOP challenger. The Texan’s Texas Partisan Index gives the seat a rating of R-60%, indicating a solid likelihood of a Republican victory.
Powell is currently in her first term in office, having been elected for the first time in 2018.
A press release announcing Powell’s suspension of her campaign can be found below.
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Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a senior reporter for The Texan and a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. He has coached competitive speech and debate and has been involved in politics since a young age. One of Hayden's favorite quotes is by Sam Houston: "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."
