Texas House Rep. Carl Sherman announced on Saturday that he intends to run for the U.S. Senate in an attempt to unseat incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz.
Sherman (D-DeSoto), the former mayor of DeSoto, has represented District 109 in the Texas House since 2018. Currently, he serves as the senior pastor of the Church of Christ in Hutchins.
Sherman is advocating for more funding for public schools, “affordable housing,” and improved healthcare.
“Texas needs a United States senator who will stand up for all of us, our children, our families, small-business owners and the working people of Texas. We need more good paying jobs in Texas, not just jobs, but good-paying jobs,” he said during his campaign announcement, according to The Texas Tribune.
Sherman will be competing against a crowded field in the Democratic primary, which will take place on March 5, 2024.
Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) announced his intentions to run for the seat in May. He raised over $6.2 million in the two months following his announcement, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) also announced his plans to run for the seat, claiming in a video announcement that he is “running against Ted Cruz because everything that we’ve seen in this state has been nothing but taking care of rich people, while the poor people, the working class, get screwed over,” as reported by The Dallas Express.
More recently, the former district attorney of Nueces County, Mark Gonzalez, announced his campaign, claiming he would be a “Senator who prioritizes people, finding solutions with a focus on what’s best for Texans,” as reported by The Dallas Express.
Although each of his opponents has had additional time to campaign and raise funds, Sherman said it would not affect the way he approaches his bid.
“I intend to win because I think that we have the right message, and I believe we’ve got the work that shows that we’re willing to do whatever it takes to defend the rights of every Texan,” said Sherman to WFAA after his announcement.
Due to his plans to run for the U.S. Senate, Sherman will be vacating his seat in the Texas House of Representatives.
A member of the State Board of Education, Aicha Davis (D-Dallas), has already said she plans to run for Sherman’s seat in the House, as reported by The Texas Tribune.