Farenthold encourages Republicans to run for possible new Valley district

While state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. joins the list of Democrats who have decided not to seek a new U.S. House seat, U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold is encouraging Republicans to seek the seat if a new congressional district is created and is anchored in the Rio Grande Valley.
“I have been truly humbled by the encouragement I have received to run for Congress,” Lucio Jr. said in a written statement. “However, after much prayer and thought, I believe my service to the people of south Texas is most effective as a state senator.”
His son, state Rep. Eddie Lucio III also recently said he would not be a candidate for the congressional seat.
State Rep. Rene O. Oliveira and Cameron County District Attorney Armando R. Villalobos, both Democrats, have not decided whether to seek the congressional seat.
Lucio Jr. that he would seek re-election to the state senate seat.
“I hope to have the support that I have enjoyed for many years,” he said.
Lucio Jr. said that the proposed District 34 congressional seat that resulted from the state Legislature’s congressional redistricting will certainly be challenged for discriminating against minority voters.
“Therefore, we should hold our breath in the Valley regarding the shape of the congressional districts that we will eventually find ourselves in,” Lucio Jr. said.
If the seat stands, Lucio Jr. said that he looks forward to working on issues where state and national interests meet with the individual that would be elected to the seat.
For his part and in the event the new District 34 is created and he would no longer live in a congressional district that includes Brownsville, Farenthold, who is from Corpus Christi, said he suspects that there will be several Republicans seeking the seat.
“I keep telling people that South Texans are more conservative than the Republican establishment gives them credit for,” Farenthold said.
“I continue to push for Republicans to reach out to communities that share our values, but have historically voted Democrat. The national Democrat party has moved too far left for many,” Farenthold added.