TEXAS, USA — A state senator who represents a large portion of San Antonio and southwest Texas, including Uvalde, has officially filed to run for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Democratic State Sen. Roland Gutierrez is hoping to defeat Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Back in April, a source close to Gutierrez told The Texas Tribune that he was "very likely" to run against Cruz. Another source said there was "no question he is seriously looking at it." In July, Gutierrez launched his campaign.
He officially filed documents declaring his candidacy at the Texas Democratic Party Headquarters in Austin on Monday, Dec. 11. He was joined by Uvalde supporters, the groups Mothers For Democracy and Mothers Against Greg Abbott and young voters from across the state.
Gutierrez is trying to keep Cruz from being elected for a third term in officer this November. The state senator has said Cruz failed to address gun safety following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, when 19 students and two teachers were killed on May 24, 2022.
Gutierrez released the following statement on Monday:
"We’ve got to change this state. After the Robb Elementary Massacre, we saw every failure that happened in Uvalde. In Uvalde and across the state thousands joined together to demand change, but we saw first hand how our leaders only care about maintaining power.
I’m a gun owner and a believer of the second amendment but after 19 children and 2 teachers died, Republicans wouldn’t even allow us to have a conversation about gun safety. But what happened in Uvalde wasn’t just about guns, it was about neglect of rural Texas and the systems in this state that are supposed to keep us safe.
I’m running against Ted Cruz, because everything we’ve seen in this state has been nothing but Republicans taking care of their rich donors, while the working class gets left behind. I’m going to work hard to fix the real problems of today. Texans will have a Senator that will fight for them."
Before potentially facing Cruz in November, Gutierrez will face U.S. Rep. Collin Allred in the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024.