TEXAS, USA — Republicans aren’t the only ones launching primary challenges against incumbents.
State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado announced hours before the filing deadline that she would be running against incumbent, and fellow Dallas Democrat, state Sen. Nathan Johnson in Texas’ Senate District 16 in Dallas County.
We asked why she would walk away from a safe House seat for a gamble that could leave her on the sideline; she said, “Let me share with you my record in the House is one of fighting for issues that disproportionately impact women, making big changes like passing the Lavinia Masters Act which tackled a longstanding issue that had been ignored, which is the backlog of thousands of untested rape kits.”
Rep. Neave Criado currently represents Texas House District 107, which includes parts of Dallas, Mesquite and Garland.
She was first elected in 2016.
The Democrat is chair of the House County Affairs Committee. She’s also a member of the Business and Industry Committee.
And she is Chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
“As a leader of a caucus as well, we not only are able to pass good legislation, but we also fight when we have attacks by Governor Abbott against our community. And our current incumbent Senator does not have that fight. And so, I want to take my skills from the House to the Senate,” she said.
Rep. Neave Criado says she’s confident she can win after voters see the contrast between her and the incumbent.
She argues Sen. Johnson has been too timid and hasn’t fought hard enough against the Republican agenda.
“And this is really also about a bigger issue and the threat of Democracy that’s being posed by Donald Trump, Ken Paxton, Greg Abbott. Like we don’t need somebody who’s not going to be standing up to fight. We don’t need somebody who’s going to buckle under pressure to Dan Patrick," she said.
The primary election in Texas will be held Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
Your last day to register to vote will be Monday, February 5, 2024.
Early voting will run from February 20, 2024 – March 1, 2024.