This article was updated to include a statement by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
On Monday, State Sen. Jane Nelson announced that she will not seek re-election to the Texas Senate.
Nelson currently represents Texas Senate District 12, which includes parts of Denton and Tarrant counties. She has been elected for 10 terms, after first being elected to the State Senate in 1992. She also previously served on the State Board of Education.
Nelson currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and she was the first woman to ever hold the position after being appointed in 2014.
“It has been a great honor to represent our community in the Texas Senate. I promised to listen, work hard, and deliver results and have strived to fulfill that pledge. Our accomplishments have improved the lives of Texans, which makes me proud,” said Senator Nelson. “I love my constituents, my staff, and my colleagues in the Senate and owe them, as well as my family, a debt of gratitude. As this chapter closes, you can count on me to keep working to build a better Texas.”
Following the news of Nelson not seeking reelection Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said,
“Jane Nelson is a great state senator whose 28 years of service, hard work and dedication to our state will be felt by Texans for years to come. I appointed Jane to serve as my Finance Chair – the first woman to ever be appointed to that position on a permanent basis. I needed someone I could trust without question to work with me on crafting the budget each session. She did the lion-share of the work and she always worked with distinction. Few realize that writing a $125 billion annual budget for the 9th largest economy in the world is not limited to a legislative session. It is a full-time project that requires constant focus and attention. Thanks to her vigilance, Texas has remained fiscally strong even during difficult times. She is a respected leader in the Senate.”
Reportedly, State Rep. Jared Patterson (R–Frisco) is contemplating running for the position. He quickly took to Twitter after her announcement, saying, “As Senator Nelson looks to pass the torch, we must focus on having a proven conservative fighter represent North Texas. I ask for your prayers over the coming days and weeks as I strongly consider running for the Texas Senate.”
