One of the three candidates who sought unsuccessfully to topple Governor Rick Perry in 2006 is now looking at taking another leap into the political arena, a new report says.
According to the Texas Tribune, Chris Bell is reportedly looking at jumping into the 2020 U.S. Senate race against incumbent Republican John Cornyn. The report says Bell told the Tribune that he is considering jumping into the race following U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro’s decision to pass on a bid earlier this year.
"I certainly think it's a field I could compete in," Bell said in the report. "Many of us believe this is the year the pendulum finally swings."
The Democratic field currently features Michael Cooper, Adrian Ocegueda, Sema Hernandez and former congressional challenger MJ Hegar vying for the party’s nomination. Independent Dwayne Stovall is also running and the Libertarian Party is likely to select a nominee for the race, as well.
Bell served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003-2005, eventually running against Perry in the 2006 Governor’s race. Bell netted 30 percent against Perry’s 39 percent. Independents Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Richard Kinky Friedman received 18 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Bell also ran for mayor of Houston in 2015.
The deadline to join the race will be in December 2019.
