State Representative David Cook announced his bid for Texas Senate District 22, following the retirement announcement of State Senator Brian Birdwell.
Birdwell announced of June 30 he would not seek another term, saying: “Today I inform you of my decision not to seek reelection for another term as your State Senator. It has been the high honor of my life, on par with commanding United States soldiers, to serve my fellow Texans for over 15 years. At my swearing in ceremony in Hillsboro after winning the 2010 special election, I made clear I was not elected to a position of authority over the citizens of District 22, but rather elected to a position subordinate to them so that I could steward their seat in the State Senate.”
Birdwell thanked several who he cited as instrumental in his successes and support: Jesus Christ, his wife Mel, citizen in his first special election campaign, the staff members of District 22, senate colleagues who shared their wisdom and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Representative Cook announced his candidacy for the senate seat the same day.
“Senator Birdwell is the personification of a servant leader, in both word and deed,” said Cook. “His 15 years of steadfast service to SD 22, combined with a lifetime of devotion to public service, leaves behind enormous shoes to fill. It has been a great privilege to represent the people of House District 96. Over the years, we’ve faced a wave of growth and change, bringing both opportunities and challenges that continue to impact our way of life. These realities don’t stop at district lines. They affect communities across SD 22 in much the same way. I am stepping forward because these challenges require experience, follow-through, and the time necessary to commit fully to the work ahead.
“While we’ve accomplished a great deal, there’s more work to be done! I look forward to hitting the campaign trail to earn the support of the people of Texas Senate District 22.”
Representative Cook is currently serving his third term representing Texas House District 96. He is Managing Partner of Harris Cook L.L.P. and previously served as the Mayor of the City of Mansfield from 2008 to 2021. He and his wife, Tonya, are longtime residents of Mansfield and are proud parents of four children and grandparents of six (soon to be seven) grandchildren.
More information is available at DavidCookForTexas.com.