Susan Wright, wife of Texas congressman who died of COVID-19, announces run for seat

Susan Wright, the widow of the late Rep. Ron Wright (R), announced Wednesday she will run for her husband’s vacant seat in Texas’s 6th Congressional District. 

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

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. After a lifetime of public service, I’m ready to stand up for our values, our economy, & our way of life. #TX6https://t.co/obOaAzZUkN pic.twitter.com/LsxGwaDwst

— Susan Wright (@SusanWrightTX6) February 24, 2021

Ron Wright first won his seat in 2018 before winning reelection in 2020. He died on Feb. 7 after battling both the coronavirus and lung cancer. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) set a special election for May 1 to replace him. 

While she’s never held a public office, Susan Wright has worked for Texas lawmakers, having served as district director for former state Reps. Bill Zedler (R) and David Cook (R).

She casts herself as a staunch conservative, writing on her website that she will stand up for “Basic freedoms like the right to bear arms, the right to worship, and the right to raise a family.” She’s also a longtime member of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee.

Three Democrats have also thrown their hats into the ring to run for the Texas House seat: Jana Lynne Sanchez, who lost the race for seat in 2018, Lydia Bean, who lost a race for a spot in the state House in 2020, and Shawn Lassiter, a Fort Worth educator. Republican businessman John Anthony Castro is also running. 

There will be no primary for the race, so every candidate will appear on the ballot together in May.