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The embattled district attorney for Nueces County, Mark Gonzalez, announced Tuesday that he will enter the Democratic primary to challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Gonzalez’s resignation from his current position was a significant development, especially in light of the ongoing efforts by local conservative activists to remove him, which coincided with the announcement of his campaign.
“I was such a threat they tried to remove me from office,” Gonzalez said in an announcement video as it showed the tattooed Gonzalez hopping on a motorcycle. “Now, it became clear to me — and to all of us — that there isn’t one of us, a real American, in Washington, representing real Americans.”
Several Democrats are already running to take on Cruz, most prominently U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas and state Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio. Cruz is running for a third term after his close reelection race against Democrat Beto O’Rourke in 2018.
During the announcement video, Gonzalez, like his fellow Democrats, criticized Cruz for his trip to Cancun during the severe winter storm in Texas in 2021. However, Gonzalez also shared details about his own past encounters with the law, revealing that he had been arrested for drunk driving at the age of 19. He acknowledged his guilt, but emphasized that he had diligently worked towards redemption and securing a second chance.
Gonzalez’s tenure as the chief prosecutor in Nueces County, which is located in Corpus Christi, has attracted significant attention from the progressive criminal justice movement across the country. In January, a conservative activist named Colby Wiltse submitted a petition to oust Gonzalez from his position, alleging charges of “incompetency, official misconduct, and failure to provide bail.” A trial was planned to commence in December, but Gonzalez stated on Monday that his resignation renders the matter irrelevant.
In a resignation letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, Gonzalez said he refuses to be a “sacrificial lamb to send a foreboding message to other duly elected DAs in Texas who exercise their discretion.”
Last year, Gonzalez joined four other district attorneys in Texas in making a commitment not to pursue criminal charges related to abortion if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned. Additionally, he had previously assured that he would not prosecute families who seek gender-affirming care for transgender minors.
Earlier this year, the Legislature responded by passing a law to prohibit local prosecutors from implementing policies where they choose not to prosecute specific types of crime.
In a news release on Wednesday, Wiltse and his organization, Citizens Defending Freedom, marked Gonzalez’s resignation as a cause for celebration. They stated that he chose to step down instead of confronting examination and the possible consequence of being charged with ‘incompetence’ during a trial.
Wiltse expressed that it was an excellent day for justice in Nueces County.
In 2016, Gonzalez secured his first election victory as district attorney. In 2020, despite facing a close race, he managed to secure his reelection, coinciding with former President Donald Trump’s win in the county by a margin of 6 percentage points.
Gonzalez’s replacement as district attorney will be appointed by Abbott, who is a member of the Republican party.
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