Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin has announced his decision to step down to pursue a seat in the Texas House.
McLaughlin openly criticized state law enforcement response and state leaders’ response to the 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, complaining that they sought to scapegoat local officials for inaction during the shooting.
“He criticized the law enforcement response,” Texas Tribune political reporter James Barragán said. “He criticized state leaders for throwing the small city officials under the bus. And he says … that he wants to bring accountability on this (to the state House), but also other issues, including property taxes, school choice and border issues.”
With Uvalde’s mayoral position open, Kimberly Mata-Rubio – who lost her 10-year-old daughter, Lexi, during the shooting – has announced her bid for the mayor’s seat.
For more stories from the week in Texas politics, including the drama over political interference at Texas A&M, and a look at Democratic Rep. Greg Casar’s “thirst strike” in Washington, D.C., this week, listen to the conversation in the audio player above.
