BREAKING NEWS! Federal Judge Rules Ramsey English Cantu May Run for State Representative District 74
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
United States District Court Senior Judge David Ezra for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, ruled that former Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu is eligible to run as a candidate for the Texas House of Representative District 74 in the Democratic Party Primary scheduled on March 3, 2020, reversing the Texas Democratic Party and its Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa’s December 10, 2019 Letter disqualifying Ramsey English Cantu as a candidate based on Article 3 of the Texas Constitution and certain Texas Election Code Section.
Judge Ezra’s decision clears the path and legality for Ramsey English Cantu to compete for the Democratic Party nomination in the upcoming March 3, 2020 Texas Primary Election against Heriberto “Eddie” Morales, Jr. and Rowland Garza. The winner of the Democratic Party Primary Election will face off against the winner of the Republican Party Primary Election, either Robert Garza or Ruben Falcon, in the General Election on November 3, 2020.
Eagle Pass attorney and Democratic Party candidate for House District 74 Heriberto “Eddie” Morales, Jr. lodged a complaint concerning Cantu’s eligibility to run as a candidate with the Texas Democratic Party headquarters in Austin, Texas.
The Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa issued a letter to Cantu dated December 10, 2019 stating that he was disqualified to run as a candidate for House District. 74 due to violating Article 3, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution and Section 145.003 of the Texas Election Code.
Cantu filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, on December 12, 2019 seeking a Temporary Injunction, Preliminary Injunction, Declaratory Judgment, and a Writ off Mandamus against the Texas Democratic Party to reverse their decision of ineligibility as a candidate for House District 74.
The State of Texas through its Office of Attorney General filed a brief supporting Cantu’s legal position that he was eligible as a candidate for the House District 74, while Morales filed a brief arguing that Cantu was not eligible to run as a candidate due to Texas Holdover statute and legal precedent.
U.S. Senior District Judge Ezra concurred with Cantu and the State of Texas Attorney General arguments that he was not disqualified and should be placed on the ballot for the House District 74 race in the Texas Democratic Party’s March 3, 2020 election.
