North Texas Congressman Marc Veasey Opts Out of Reelection Bid

Veasey cites redistricting and a late entry by another candidate as reasons for his decision

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:20am

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Democratic Congressman Marc Veasey of Fort Worth has announced that he will not run for reelection in the 33rd Congressional District or seek any other elected office in the upcoming election cycle. Veasey, who has represented the district since 2013, said the mid-decade redistricting in Texas and a last-minute entry by another candidate in a nearby district led to his decision.

Why it matters

Veasey's decision not to run for reelection marks the end of a two-decade political career in elected office. His departure will leave an open seat in the 33rd Congressional District, which has been redrawn to include only Dallas County. This could shift the political dynamics in North Texas as Democrats look to maintain their hold on the region.

The details

Veasey said he had initially planned to run for reelection in the 33rd District, but the redistricting process left the district with a smaller Democratic majority. He then considered running in the nearby 30th Congressional District, but a late entry by another candidate, Jasmine Crockett's pastor Freddie Haynes, led Veasey to ultimately decide against that option as well. With the filing deadline looming, Veasey briefly filed to run for Tarrant County Judge before ultimately withdrawing from that race as well.

  • Veasey announced his decision not to run for reelection or any other elected office on March 15, 2026.
  • The filing deadline for the 2026 election cycle was December 8, 2025.

The players

Marc Veasey

Democratic Congressman representing Texas's 33rd Congressional District since 2013.

Jasmine Crockett

Democratic candidate who announced a run for U.S. Senate instead of the newly redrawn 30th Congressional District.

Freddie Haynes

Pastor who entered the race for the 30th Congressional District at the last minute, according to Veasey.

Alisa Simmons

Democratic candidate for Tarrant County Judge, whom Veasey has decided to support.

Tim O'Hare

Republican candidate for Tarrant County Judge, running against Alisa Simmons.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a long time since I haven't been on the ballot. It's been over 20 years since my name hasn't been on the ballot. And my name was actually still on the ballot. I actually had to tell people that I had suspended my campaign for County Judge here in Tarrant, and that I had gotten behind Alisa Simmons.”

— Marc Veasey, Congressman (CBS News Texas)

“I thought there was going to be an opportunity for me to run in Congressional District 30. But it just didn't work out the way that I wanted it to. There was another plan going on there between Jasmine and her pastor Freddie Haynes and he got in. I didn't know that he was going to get into the race, honestly, until the very last minute.”

— Marc Veasey, Congressman (CBS News Texas)

“I had to make my decision in a few hours on whether or not I was going to file for County Judge. So, I did that, and after some contemplation and some thoughts several days after I filed, I was like, you know what, I don't think that I want to be the County Judge right now. I just don't think that is the door that God is showing me that I should walk through right now.”

— Marc Veasey, Congressman (CBS News Texas)

What’s next

Veasey said he plans to play a role in helping elect Democratic candidates locally and statewide after he leaves office at the end of his term in December 2026. He is also considering his options for the future, though he has ruled out a return to elected politics for now.

The takeaway

Veasey's decision not to seek reelection or another elected office marks the end of a long political career, but also highlights the impact of redistricting and the fluid nature of electoral politics. His departure leaves an open seat in a key North Texas district, setting the stage for a potentially competitive race in the 2026 election cycle.