87th LegislatureElections 2022State HouseState Rep. Eddie Lucio III Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2022

Austin, TX, October 1, 2021 — The Texas House shakeup continues as Rep. Eddie Lucio III (D-Brownsville) has announced he will not seek re-election in 2022. He is the eleventh member of the House to forgo re-election and the sixth simply retiring without announced plans to seek other office.

“It is with sincere gratitude, yet a heavy heart, that I have decided that I will not seek re-election to the Texas House in 2022,” he said in a statement Friday morning. “It is with hope that I start this next chapter in my life with a focus on family, friends, and business.”

Lucio, son of state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr, is the second House Democrat to announce his retirement.

He was first elected to represent House District 38 in 2006 and won every election since easily in every election since except for a 2020 primary which he won by under 8 percent.

Lucio was rated the 15^th most conservative of the 67 Democrats in the House during the 87^th regular session. His district is solidly blue, with a current Texas Partisan Index rating of D-62 percent. With the newly proposed House maps, that district makeup did not change.

While often a down-the-line Democrat on big issues, Lucio did support Senate Bill 14, a restriction on local government employment ordinances.

During the legislature, Lucio was part of the marathon State Affairs Committee hearings on the February blackouts.

In his private life, Lucio is an attorney and owns two Orangetheory Fitness centers.

With now 11 open seats in the Texas House, there will be a number of new faces when the legislature convenes in 2023 for the 88^th regular session.