Eckhardt currently represents District 14 in the Texas Senate and previously served as the Travis County Judge.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) announced Monday she is running for the Congressional District 10 seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Austin).
McCaul announced in September that he would not seek reelection after serving two decades in Congress. He previously chaired both the House Homeland Security and House Foreign Affairs committees.
In a video posted to her official X account, Eckhardt emphasized the importance of voter choice and said she wants to help bridge political divides.
“I really dug deep and thought to myself, what do we expect our government to be?” Eckhardt said in the video. “Do we expect it to be a one-party system where we don’t really have a choice, or do we expect it to take a population that is very different and work together to find common ground solutions?”
Eckhardt told KVUE Political Director Ashley Goudeau that her decision to run stems from a desire to find solutions for politically divided districts.
“Really what’s taking me into this race is acknowledgment that the deep divisions that we are experiencing are nothing in comparison to the challenges that we all need solutions for,” Eckhardt said.
If elected, she said her top priorities would include improving health care, strengthening education and preserving Texas’ water supply.
District 10 -which was redrawn to favor Republicans– stretches across 13 counties from Lake Livingston to Lake Travis. The GOP currently holds a narrow 220-212 majority in the House.
“It doesn’t matter what position I’m in. I’m not running for a title; I’m running to get things done,” Eckhardt said.
Eckhardt currently represents District 14 in the Texas Senate and previously served as the Travis County Judge.