Roland Gutierrez, one of the best known of more than a dozen Democratic candidates running in the Texas primary to oppose U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, made a stop in Amarillo Saturday to make his case to be the party choice.
Gutierrez, currently serving as the Texas Senator for District 19, has served in that capacity since 2021. He had previously been a member of the Texas House of Representatives and a member of the San Antonio City Council. He served as a state representative from 2008 to 2021.
His district, which includes Uvalde, fell victim to the 2022 Robb Elementary School Shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead. This tragedy has led to him becoming one of the most vocal opponents of the police response to the shooting and an advocate for better statewide gun control policies.
During the Amarillo event, Gutierrez spoke about his ambitions and what he hoped to achieve if elected to the U.S. Senate, emphasizing what he felt were the failures of Cruz and the contrast between his positions and Colin Alred, whom he claimed has changed many positions on the border and gun control. After taking questions from the crowd, Gutierrez spoke about his trek across Texas and how he stood out from the crowded field.