State Rep. Celia Israel
Austin, TX – Rep. Celia Israel (D-Austin) filed for re-election today (Wednesday, Nov. 18). Israel is one of two lesbian members of the Texas House of Representative. Mary Gonzalez (D-El Paso) is the other; she filed last week.
Israel said in a press release that she chose today to file today because this marks the 1,000th day since she began her first campaign for Texas House Representative by naming a campaign treasurer and filing with the Texas Election Commission.
“It only seems fitting that, today, I file my candidacy for re-election,” Israel said. “Every moment I’ve spent as a representative, I’ve thought about the thousands of families and individuals I’ve been called fight for. I’m proud of my office and the work that we have done and will continue to do for Texas.”
In her first term in the Legislature, Israel was named Freshman of the Year by the Legislative Study Group and a Champion of Equality by Equality Texas. In the last legislative session, Israel passed three laws, including HB 735, which directs the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to report the number of alternatively fueled vehicles in Texas, and HB 1140, which brings greater accountability and transparency to pregnant inmate care.
Israel serves on the House Transportation and Elections Committees, as well as the Transportation Sub-Committee on Long-Term Infrastructure and Planning. She is also a member of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the Women’s Health Caucus, and the Legislative Study Group. Rep. Israel has represented House District 50 since Feb. 2014. Her district includes northwest Austin to Pflugerville and the eastern edge of Travis County to Webberville.