We are ready to support and invest in a true progressive willing to step up and restore access to abortion and family planning in Texas.

Houston, TX – Today, Senator Eddie Lucio- (D-Brownsville) the most anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-public education Democrat in Texas- announced his retirement. For over three decades, Lucio has been the extremist right’s trusted vote to roll back Texans’ rights. 

• He was the only Democrat in the Senate to support Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s transphobic “bathroom bill” and this year’s anti-trans sports ban.
• He was the only Democrat in the Senate to vote for increased abortion restrictions, the same restrictions that then-Senator Wendy Davis filibustered for 11 hours. 
• He voted for and co-sponsored the most extreme anti-abortion law in the nation: SB 8, Texas’ six-week abortion ban.
• Consistently voted to increase millions in state funding to Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which are unlicensed, unregulated anti-abortion centers with no real oversight. 

Avow Political Director Caroline Duble issued the following statement: 

“We congratulate the hard work and dedication of progressive organizers in the Rio Grande Valley for holding Senator Lucio accountable, forcing Lucio for the first time in his political career to have to answer to his horrible record. Lucio has been the extremist right’s trusted anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ vote for over 30 years, hurting his own constituents in the process. The Rio Grande Valley is a vibrant and resilient community that deserves a progressive leader who is not willing to compromise on Texans’ rights or values.”

Senator Lucio was not a champion for the Rio Grande Valley. He has led the charge to deprive Texans of abortion and reproductive healthcare, hurting his own community of the Rio Grande Valley the most. 

Lucio helped dismantle the state’s family planning program, which devastated the care infrastructure in the Rio Grande Valley but has consistently voted to increase state funding to Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which are unlicensed, unregulated anti-abortion centers with no real oversight. The entire purpose of these centers is to trick pregnant Texans into trusting them as medical providers, and then lie to them so they won’t seek the abortion care they need. Last session, Lucio championed a bill that would have forced all Texans who need abortions to go to these unregulated, biased facilities.

Lucio has always been the extremist right’s trusted vote when it comes to attacking abortion access, reproductive healthcare, and LGBTQ+ rights. The Rio Grande Valley deserves better than someone who is more interested in advancing Dan Patrick’s harmful agenda than helping his own community. We’re thrilled at the possibility of new leadership in the Rio Grande Valley and are ready to support a true progressive willing to step up and restore access to abortion and family planning in Texas.  

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