North Texas Republican Warren Norred announced Thursday he’s launching a campaign to challenge first-term Democrat State Sen. Beverly Powell (Burleson) for a seat in the Texas Senate.

The Arlington attorney said he will run in the 2022 Republican primary for a chance to unseat Powell in the November general election for Senate District 10 in Tarrant County. Norred currently represents the district on the State Republican Executive Committee.

“The people of our district deserve a representative who won’t run from difficult problems,” Norred said, noting Powell had joined the House Democrats who fled to D.C. last month to stall a vote on election integrity reforms during the first special session of the 87th Legislature.

“Inaction is action in my book, and Beverly has done nothing to stand up to government overreach and regulations that are crippling our state and its citizens,” Norred said. “As we seek to recover from the destruction of COVID shutdowns, we need a representative who is ready to listen to you and to fight for District 10 and solve these issues. This is what drove me to run for State Senate.”

Norred’s law firm is known for representing citizens fighting against government abuses, including Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther and dozens of 51-percent bar owners shut down by Gov. Greg Abbott’s COVID executive orders, as well as people blocked by Abbott’s orders from visiting their family members in nursing homes.

Describing himself as “a happy warrior for conservative values,” Norred said his “pro-Texas agenda” will focus on lowering property taxes, controlling the state budget, reducing regulations to assist businesses as Texas reopens, supporting education improvement and school choice, fighting for election integrity, reducing crime, and increasing border security.

Powell was first elected in the 2018 “blue wave” election that flipped SD 10 and a dozen other seats in the Texas Legislature from Republican to Democrat.

Multiple civic groups rate Powell’s voting record as failing.

Local Republican activists welcomed Norred’s entry into the race.

“Could not be more excited!” Arlington resident Anne Coker posted on social media on Thursday. “Arlington’s own Warren Norred is running for SD 10. He will represent ‘We the People’ and will never run from serving the people of the 10th District!”

“Yes! Warren Norred is running for Texas State Senate District 10,” said Maggie Wright, a longtime conservative leader from Burleson. “We need someone in there that won’t run to D.C. when Texas has work to do!” Wright called Norred a “solid conservative” and said he has her support.

“I fully endorse Warren Norred! No doubts whatsoever!!” said Arlington conservative leader Kelly Canon.

“You will make us proud as you fight for liberty,” added Delores Pell of Dalworthington Gardens.

Senate District 10 encompasses about half of Tarrant County, mostly the southern portion, and includes large parts of Arlington and Fort Worth.

The 2022 primary elections are scheduled for March 1, but they are likely to be postponed until late summer due to COVID-caused delays collecting census data used in the decennial redistricting process.

Erin Anderson

Erin Anderson is a Senior Journalist for Texas Scorecard, reporting on state and local issues, events, and government actions that impact people in communities throughout Texas and the DFW Metroplex. A native Texan, Erin grew up in the Houston area and now lives in Collin County.

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