AUSTIN, Texas — Texas State Representative Charles "Doc" Anderson has announced that he will retire early from his seat in the Texas House of Representatives.
Anderson has held the District 56 Texas House seat since 2005.
According to a release from Anderson's office, he was first elected in November 2004 and was reelected nine times. In late 2023, Anderson reportedly told Governor Greg Abbott he was formerly tendering his resignation to allow time for a special election, pursuant to Section 201.001 of the Texas Election Code.
Anderson said he asked Abbott to order a special election to "fill the vacancy created by his early retirement," recommending the election for Nov. 5, 2024 to align with the general election to minimize additional taxpayer expense.
According to the statement from his office, Anderson said he was motivated to retire from the legislature early in order to "help bolster the legislative seniority of his replacement". The incoming freshman class of Texas House members for the 89th Texas Legislature, starting in January of next year, will be one of the largest in recent history and will include around thirty new lawmakers, said Anderson's office in the release.
“By stepping down now, whomever wins the special and general elections on November 5 will be sworn in soon after, and will be able to hit the ground running working for the people of McLennan County and District 56," Anderson said in the release. "My decision will allow he or she to gain seniority over all of their fellow freshmen which, in turn, will help them secure better committee assignments and be able to more effectively serve our constituents."
Anderson thanked the people of his district for their support over the years.
“As I step away from my legislative duties, I have a profound sense of gratitude for the good people of this district who entrusted me to be their voice in our state’s capitol," Anderson continued. "It has been the honor of my life to serve my fellow Texans and my McLennan County neighbors for ten legislative sessions and countless special sessions. I am proud of my record of service in the legislature. Working together with my colleagues and the people of District 56 we have accomplished many great things for our county, our district and our state."
“While my service in the legislature is coming to an end, my love of Texas and McLennan County has not," Anderson added. "While I look forward to spending more time with Lyn, who has served right alongside me, I will continue to support and champion the issues and causes I have fought for these almost twenty years. We plan on remaining active in our community for many years to come and we will never stop praying that God continue to bless the great sovereign State of Texas and the people who call it home."
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