Texas Sen. Birdwell announces retirement, Rep. Cook to run for seat
Birdwell has served as a senator from Senate District 22 since 2010 after a career serving in the military. He was injured in the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon and awarded a Purple Heart for his injuries.
In a statement posted to X, Birdwell thanked those who worked alongside him and listed the accomplishments he is most proud of from his tenure in the Senate.
'In my time in the Senate, we affirmed that Texas is a sanctuary for the unborn, expanded Second Amendment freedoms, banned woke insanity such as [Environmental, Social and Governance] and DEl, protected religious liberty, provided historic property tax relief, imposed transparency on several government agencies and prevented significant amounts of bad legislation from reaching the Senate floor,' Birdwell wrote.
Cook is running to succeed Birdwell after having served in the Texas House since 2021 as a representative from House District 96, based south of Arlington and Fort Worth. He ran for Speaker of the House in 2025, but was defeated by Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock. In a statement, Cook said he is running to address 'challenges' that SD-22 may face.
'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,' Cook wrote.
SD-22 is heavily Republican, as Birdwell won reelection in 2022 with no Democratic opponent. The primary election will be held March 3, 2026, with the general election on Nov. 3, 2026.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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