Gene Green Will Not Seek Re-Election
Democrat represents Texas’ 29th District
Rep. Gene Green told his congressional staff Monday he will not run for re-election.
“I think that it is time for me to be more involved in the lives of our children and grandchildren,” the Texas Democrat said in a statement. “I have had to miss so many of their activities and after 26 years in Congress it is time to devote more time to my most important job of being a husband, father and grandfather.”
Green represents the 29th District. He was first elected in 1992 and is in his 13th term. He serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and is the ranking member on its health subcommittee.
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His seat is rated Solid Democrat by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales. Hillary Clinton won the 29th District by 46 points last fall, according to Daily Kos Elections.
Green’s district is 77 percent Hispanic, and the district was drawn to empower Hispanic voters. But Green is white. He faced a primary challenge in 2016 from county sheriff and former Houston City Council member Adrian Garcia, whom he defeated by nearly 20 points.
“I have been fortunate to have never lost an election since 1972 and I am confident that I still have the support of my constituents and would be successful if I ran for another term in Congress,” Green said in his Monday statement.
Democrats who could look at running for the seat include state Rep. Armando Walle, who worked for Green before being elected to the state House in 2008. State Rep. Ana Hernandez could also run for the seat. Elected in a special election in 2005, she represents parts of Houston, Channelview and the cities of Galena Park and Jacinto City. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia may also be interested. She’s a former Houston City Controller and Harris County Commissioner, both of which are elected positions.