State Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos, a Democrat whose House district includes part of Richardson, said Thursday she is running for the Texas Senate seat that Nathan Johnson will give up when he becomes attorney general.
Her House District 102 takes in sections of Dallas, Garland and Richardson, KERA News reported. She announced her bid for Senate District 16 on Thursday, Nov. 12.
She said her campaign will center on affordable health care and investment in public schools, and that the race is personal because of her own experiences with health care systems in Texas, according to KERA. In a Facebook post announcing the run, she wrote: "I'm running for Senate District 16 so our kids can see a future for themselves in Texas."
KERA reported that U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez and a number of Texas House members have endorsed her, she said.
A second Democrat already in
She is the second candidate to announce. Former state Rep. John Turner, also a Democrat, launched his campaign earlier in the week. Turner represented Dallas's House District 114 from 2019 to 2023 and has said his priorities are making living costs more affordable, funding public education and expanding health care access. KERA reported that Turner says Johnson has endorsed him.
No other candidates were named in KERA's report.