NUECES COUNTY, Texas — Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez on Tuesday announced he has stepped down and is throwing his hat in the ring to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in 2024.

What You Need To Know

  • Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez on Tuesday announced he has stepped down and is seeking to replace Sen. Ted Cruz

  • Gonzalez will face Texas Rep. Colin Allred and Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez in the Democratic primary in March 

  • Gonzalez gained national attention for refusing to prosecute abortions in his county 

  • Cruz only beat former congressman Beto O'Rourke by a few points in 2018

Nueces is entering the race against two Democratic heavyweights. Texas Rep. Colin Allred announced his candidacy back in May. In July, Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez joined the fray. The candidates will battle it out in the March primary. 

Gonzalez, a two-term district attorney whose county included Corpus Christi, has received national attention for refusing to prosecute abortion cases.

That brought pushback from Republicans, some of whom petitioned to have him removed from office. He’s accused of official misconduct, incompetency and failure to give bond. A trial was expected to begin later this month.

Gonzalez’s terms was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2024.

No Democrat has won statewide office in Texas in nearly 30 years. Still, Cruz could be vulnerable. Former congressman Beto O’Rourke nearly beat Cruz in 2018 — in what was a strong year for Democrats.

A May poll showed Cruz with a 5-point lead over Allred.