Why I’m Running

Former U.S. Representative John Bryant (D-Texas)

Dear Neighbor:

I’m running again because the threat to our democracy posed by the Trump Republican Party is urgent and requires everyone to get off the sidelines and join the fight where they can be most effective.

And I’m running again because the privileged Republican donor class that funds Trump completely dominates public policy in Texas, and we have to start fighting back effectively.

I joined 48 other former Democratic members of Congress in filing a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to require the release of Trump’s documents surrounding the January 6 insurrection.* I did this in response to the open threat to democracy posed by the right-wing extremism of Trump’s Republican Party.

Investigators have since found Trump’s calculated 32-page plan for overturning our last election and uncovered evidence that Trump prevented the military from protecting the capital. Now he is trying to hide the evidence.

The Trump Republican threat has now arrived in Texas, as his loyalists, including Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and Senator Ted Cruz, have:

  • ordered phony “audits” of elections where Democrats won, including Dallas County;

  • eliminated a woman’s right to choose, even in the case of rape or incest;

  • eliminated virtually all restrictions on carrying guns;

  • put a target on the backs of LGBTQ citizens;

  • undermined support for public education

And they have systematically undermined renewable energy needed to fight climate change. Abbott even falsely blamed the electric grid failure on renewable energy.

Now Republicans are passing laws to make voting more difficult and more dangerous.  

The situation is urgent.

My name will appear on the ballot for State Representative, District 114, in the upcoming March 1, 2022, Democratic Primary election.

I am asking for your support. 

I represented our area in the Texas House of Representatives for nine years, then for fourteen years in the U.S. House of Representatives, as a progressive Democrat.  After serving, I returned to private business, law, and civic activity here at home.

During my service I was twice named one of the “Ten Best Legislators in Texas” by Texas Monthly, successfully prosecuted impeachment of a corrupt federal judge before the U.S. Senate, and passed the East Texas Wilderness Bill establishing Texas’ only federally protected wilderness.  

My wife and I have made Dallas our home all our adult lives. Our three children are grown, and we are lucky to have four grandchildren. 

I’m free to speak out and lead legislative fights other elected officials avoid due to fear for their jobs or their ambition.    

I’m not afraid of the utilities and pipeline barons. I will sponsor legislation to repeal the Abbot tax on ratepayers and make the companies that made a windfall of $11 billion during the freeze pay for winterizing the system. The bill will require our state to join the national electric grid so we will never have another power outage.

I’m not afraid of the major real estate interests. Property taxes on our homes are high because major commercial properties are consistently under-appraised and not paying their fair share. I will sponsor legislation to make them shoulder their fair share and reduce taxes on homeowners.  

I’m not afraid of the anti-choice extremists. I will sponsor and fight for legislation to restore a woman’s right to make her own choice regarding reproductive health.

And I’m not afraid of the NRA gun lobby. I will fight for thorough, mandatory background checks, restoring gun permit requirements, and enacting reasonable gun restrictions to make our schools and public places safe again. 

We have to start winning these battles.   I know how to do it.

I hope I can earn your vote

P.S. If you would like to join in this campaign, please contribute, endorse, volunteer, or accept a small yard sign on our website. Please act quickly and click on the pages above, as early voting starts on February 14 and the primary election is March 1.

*https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21115886-secondamicusbriefjan-6-select-committee_2021pdf