Interest in an already crowded race for the open 21st Congressional District seat continues to grow after a former San Marcos city official and a current Hays County based state representative announced their candidacy last week.
On Friday, State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) announced he will run as a Republican candidate for the 21st Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Lamar Smith.
One day later, former San Marcos mayor Susan Narvaiz announced she will also run on the Republican ticket for the TX-21 seat, which services an eight county area including parts of Hays County.
Their decisions come roughly a week after Smith, a 16-term Republican congressman, announced he was not going to run for reelection when his term ends in 2018. Isaac and Narvaiz now join a race that’s already had six Democrats and one Republican file to run.
Isaac said in a letter to constituents that during his four terms in the Texas Legislature, he’s had the “honor and privilege” of participating in helping make Texas “the freest state in the nation.” Isaac said it was time to take those values and experience to Washington.
“A new administration promises new home for constraining the growth of federal government, but it can’t be done without principled conservative leadership in Congress,” Isaac said in his letter.
Isaac, a Dripping Springs native who was first voted to the Texas Legislature in 2011, said he is committed to serving out the remainder of his term representing House District 45, which serves Blanco and western Hays County.
“In the face of unacceptable overreach by a federal government grown too big and too costly, I’ll fight for our liberty, our security, and our future,” said Isaac in a statement. “I’m humbled that many of my constituents have asked me to run, and I look forward to discussing the issues as I campaign across the district.”
In a letter posted on her campaign website, Narvaiz said she opted to run after receiving “countless phone calls and messages urging me to consider running for Congress.”
Her announcement marks the third congressional campaign Narvaiz will undertake. After serving as San Marcos mayor from 2004 to 2010, Narvaiz unsuccessfully ran for the 35th congressional district seat in 2012 and 2015
“Our country is at a crossroads and now more than ever, we need strong leaders who are not afraid to fight for conservative values. Through my experience as mayor of one of America’s fastest growing cities, I have balanced budgets and held the line on taxes,” Narvaiz said. “As a small business owner, I’ve helped people find good paying jobs. I will bring my common sense conservatism to Washington.”
