Texas Rep. Veasey ends county judge bid

Niels Lesniewski, CQ-Roll Call on Dec 16, 2025

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WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Mark Veasey of Texas is withdrawing from the race for Tarrant County judge, saying on Monday that he wants to be available for his final year in the House rather than running for another office next year.

Veasey, a seventh-term congressman whose Fort Worth-based district was significantly reconfigured in the state Republican-led redistricting effort, will now focus on his congressional work until his planned retirement at the end of 2026. Veasey had announced just last week that he would run for the county executive post.

“Right now, my responsibility is to stay in Congress and continue the fight where the stakes are highest, holding Donald Trump accountable, pushing back against MAGA extremism, and defending the democratic values our community depends on,” Veasey said Monday in a statement. “That is where I believe I can do the most good, and that is the work I intend to continue until the end of my term.”

The historically narrow margins in the House — currently 220 Republicans, 213 Democrats and two seats vacated by Democrats — mean that every member’s absence is significant, and Veasey may have had conflicting obligations with the local run in Texas.

Former Rep. Colin Allred, a Democrat who is running for the House this cycle in Texas’ new 33rd District, said in a statement, “Marc Veasey has been a tireless champion for North Texas families and a respected leader who has always put service above self. His decision reflects the same thoughtfulness and deep commitment to our community that have marked every step of his public service.”