Matthew Lucci, a conservative Republican and an advocate for ending the opioid crisis, has launched a campaign to represent the citizens of Texas’ 25th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representative.
He will be running against longtime incumbent Roger Williams, who has held the seat since 2013. They will face off in the March 2024 primary race.
Currently 24, Lucci, if elected, will be 26 on inauguration day, and would be the youngest member of the house.
“Americans are hurting, and we feel that all across our district,” Lucci said. “I’m running for Congress because our families are dying of fentanyl poisoning, we have a crisis at our southern border and in our backyards, and it’s harder than ever to pay our bills here at home.”
The crisis at the border in regard to the opioid epidemic struck close to home for Lucci who had a close friend die from a pill laced with fentanyl.
“I didn’t even know she was addicted,” he said.
Itwasthisfriendthatinspired Lucci to start Runatek, a medical technology company that is developing devices for pain management while detecting opioids in postsurgical patients.
Needing funds for his company, he moved out of his apartment and into his car three years ago in order to put every spare dollar into his business.
His goal is to end the opioid crisis that has taken the lives of friends and family members across the country, including the latest wave of fentanyl pouring across the southern border.
“I’m very frustrated with congress. It’s unacceptable to me that nothing has been done. My friend might be alive today if legislation had been passed to aid the border,” he said.
Lucci said securing the border would have to be a multi-prong approach including funding a border wall and funding more border control agents in order to stop the push and pull of drugs into the country.
“It’s personal to me. I’m running for those families who have lost a loved one in this drug epidemic,” he said.
As well as serving as an advisor and mentor to startup medical technology companies in the DFW area, as an adjunct professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Tyler. He also sits on the industry advisory board for a local organization building job training programs for North Texans to earn high-paying jobs in manufacturing and technology.
Lucci said he is also running against Williams due to a lack of a response from the Congressman. When calling his three offices 27 times, 25 of them he received a voice mail is full notification.
“Our current representative hasn’t passed a bill into law since 2014,” Lucci said. “The incumbent lived outside the district for 10 years. It’s time for a new generation of bold leadership that can actually deliver for us.”
Born and raised in Venus, Lucci is supported by fiance’ Yendry Angulo, family and friends. He currently resides in Arlington.
Those interested in finding out more information about Lucci, can go to www. luccifortexas.com or call the campaign at 682-220-9925. Currently on his website, there are resources for narcan, an opioid blocker and resources for moms that may need assistance.