TEXAS — Susan Wright, the widow of Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas, who died earlier in February after being diagnosed with COVID-19, Wednesday announced she will run to fill her late husband’s vacant 6th congressional district seat.

“I’m in! I am excited to announce I am running for Congress to preserve my husband’s commitment to bring conservative Texas values to Washington,” she tweeted Wednesday. “After a lifetime of public service, I’m ready to stand up for our values, our economy, & our way of life.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has set a May 1 special election to fill Ron Wright’s vacant seat.

According to Susan Wright’s website, while she hasn’t held public office, she has served as district director for Rep. Bill Zedler and his successor, Rep. David Cook.

She’s also a member of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee and lists among her priorities education, border security and tax reform.

Rep. Ron Wright was hospitalized last year for complications from lung cancer.

In 2018, Ron Wright defeated Democrat Dana Lynne Sanchez for the House of Representatives in Texas’s 6th congressional district.

In December 2020, Ron Wright was among the 126 House Republican representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

Prior to serving in Congress, Ron Wright served on the Arlington City Council, was mayor pro-tem of Arlington from 2004-2008, and was chief of staff and district director for Rep. Joe Barton, whom he succeeded in the House of Representatives. 

Rep. Ron Wright was also Tarrant County tax assessor-collector from 2011-2018.

He was 67.