AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt has officially launched her campaign for Texas’ 10th Congressional District, becoming the most prominent challenger for the seat being vacated by Rep. Michael McCaul.
Eckhardt (D-Austin) is currently in her second term in the Texas Senate and not up for reelection until 2028, meaning she is not required to resign her state seat to run for Congress.
In a campaign launch video, Eckhardt framed her campaign around the need for cooperation, comparing her effort to bipartisan successes like the construction of Lake Livingston and the Mansfield Dam. She stated, “We’re not going to agree on everything, but... we can work together to build things that last.”
Eckhardt has been a longtime fixture in Travis County politics, having previously served as a Travis County Commissioner and Travis County Judge. She is also the daughter of the late U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt. Her platform centers on climate resiliency, expanding health care, and criminal and social justice.
Despite recent redistricting that added more Democratic areas of Austin, the 10th District is projected to remain Republican. If the new boundaries had been in place for the 2024 election, Donald Trump would have won the district with 60.5% of the vote.
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The newly drawn district boundaries continue to include parts of Austin, but also stretch into East Texas, and encompass Texas A&M University in College Station.
Eckhardt joins a growing field, with two other Democrats — college professor Dawn Marshall and voting rights advocate Tayhlor Coleman — also announcing runs for the seat. The Republican primary is highly contested, with 10 candidates announcing bids so far, including lawyer Chris Gober (who has represented Elon Musk) and lobbyist Jessica Karlsruher.
The deadline for candidates to file is December 8.