Congresswoman’s seat a HOT TOPIC!

*Update to originally filed story

Redistricting is always a hot topic.

There’s been heightened interest in a certain congressional seat in Texas since Gov. Greg Abbott signed off on a new map earlier this week.

Dr. Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr – Pastor Emeritus of St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church, Dr. David Wilson – President of The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance & Pastor of Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church, Dr. Anthony Sharp – President of National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, Inc & Pastor of Tabernacle of Praise Missionary Baptist Church, and Rev. Todd Atkins – Pastor of Salem Institutional Baptist Church & President of South Dallas-Fair Park Faith Coalition are four of a growing list of clergymembers who are urging U.S.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) to seek re-election in 2022.

While some opponents have already thrown their hats in the ring and others are “exploring” options, the talk is heating up and the list of possible challengers, many who don’t want to go up against the veteran legislator, continues to grow.

One thing’s for sure, a primary race in District 30 could drive more voters to the polls, and that would be a good thing, said one political strategist, adding that a huge Democratic voter turnout is important to keep Dallas County blue and work on other counties across the state.

Several names, as many as 50, have floated around as potential candidates on the Democratic side including: State Sen. Royce West, who was named as an heir apparent when she first entered Congress; State Reps. Jasmine Crockett, Yvonne Davis, Toni Rose, and Carl Sherman; Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price; former State Reps. Barbara Mallory Caraway and Helen Giddings; Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson; Ambassador Ron Kirk, Dallas City Council members present and past, Tennell Atkins, Casey Thomas, Carolyn King Arnold, Diane Ragsdale, Kevin Felder, Tiffinni A. Young; School Board members Joyce Foreman, Justin Henry and Maxie Johnson,  Judges Tammy Kemp, Monica Purdy, Lela Mays, JP Valencia Nash, and  Cheryl Lee Shannon;  attorneys Cheryl Wattley, H. Ron White and Abel Mulugheta; candidates in last election, Shenita Cleveland, Hasani Burton and Republican Tre Pennie; Pastor Frederick D. Haynes III and Sheron Patterson; businessman Albert Black, Irv Ashford and Dallas Black Chambers’ Harrison Blair and businesswomen Cynt Marshall, Matrice Ellis Kirk, DeMetris Sampson, and Elsie Cook Holmes; Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown; Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot; Political strategists Natesha Shay Cathey and Jane Hamilton;  filed candidates Zachariah Manning and Jessica Mason; and Paul Quinn President Michael Sorrell. 

In a document shared with Texas Metro News, clergy members praised Congresswoman Johnson for her almost 30 years in the nation’s capitol and while there are numerous qualified people that can seek the seat, they want the veteran to stay in office.

The document reads:
We, as a collective group, are privileged to be represented by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson in the 30th Congressional District of Texas. Since 1993, we have worked with her to strengthen our communities, grow our economy, and protect our environment.

Congresswoman Johnson has always listened to us—her constituents—about numerous issues including the economy, education, small businesses, civil rights, health care, and foreign policy.

She has always represented our district with a focus on our common bedrock philosophies of opportunity, responsibility, and fairness.

Having worked in the health care system as a registered nurse prior to running for public office, she is an expert on the health care system and has fought for increased coverage for North Texans. To this day, she remains committed to preserving and strengthening Medicare. She is also a strong advocate of the protection of Social Security for current retirees, as well as future generations.

As the only Texan serving as a Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives (the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology), Congresswoman Johnson understands that nothing is more important than the education we provide to our children. While there is no substitute for local control of our schools, she believes the federal government has a key role to play in assisting education by reducing class size and empowering our teachers. Engaging our students in science, math, and technology is very important because we must preserve our global competitive edge.

As the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, she has been able to play a key role in drafting the federal highway bill and the reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act. She was also able to demonstrate to my colleagues the importance of improving the infrastructure in the Dallas Metroplex. In addition to advocating for Dallas’ transportation needs, she led a bipartisan delegation to Dallas to view these issues first-hand and secured hundreds of millions in federal funding for Dallas projects. We believe that her leadership on the Trinity River Corridor Project will have a lasting impact. Not only will the neighborhoods adjacent to the project be revitalized, but Dallas will benefit significantly from increased flood protection and additional economic development.

She secured crucial funding for the continuing development of the inland port in southern Dallas, and over $1 billion in federal funds for DART, DFW, and Love Field.

Because of her institutional experience and political involvement, she is very familiar with the political and the current redistricting processes. She was one of the individuals who was involved politically and legally to help get an African American seat in Dallas. She worked to ensure that the minority community in North Texas is heard in the redistricting process and chaired the State Senate’s Committee on Redistricting from 1990 – 1992. She has been involved in 3 redistricting trials.

We look forward to working together with Congresswoman Johnson in continuing to build our district, which includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Kessler Park, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, South Dallas & South Oak Cliff; all of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Ferris, Glenn Heights, South Grand Prairie, Oak Lawn, Uptown/Victory Park, and West Dallas, which we are all proud to call home.

We, therefore, urge Congresswoman Johnson to serve another term representing District 30 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her work has, and should continue to benefit her 700,000 plus constituents.

Considering her seniority, in recent elections Congresswoman Johnson has had the endorsement of then president Barack Obama and sources say that President Joe Biden is also supportive of her candidacy.