'I can do more': Travis announces run for state representative seat

Houston City Councilman Greg Travis has officially announced his resignation in order to run for the Texas House of Representatives.

Last month, Travis made the announcement that he would step down to run for Texas House District 133, which is currently being represented by Republican Texas State Rep. Jim Murphy, according to Houston Public Media. Murphy, the House GOP caucus chair, has announced that he will not be seeking reelection.

Travis made his announcement in an Oct. 27 email to his constituents in District G. 

"I am torn between representing you at council or representing you at the State House in Austin," Travis said in his email, according to Houston Public Media. "I have chosen the latter as I feel I can do more for our families, this District and Houston in general as a state representative."

Travis previously criticized the city's municipal government as "superfluous and ineffectual" and following his reelection in 2019, has declined any new committee appointments.

"They invoke a sense of responsibility without conveying any requisite authority," Travis wrote in a letter to the mayor at the time, according to Houston Public Media. "Essentially, they are for presentation purposes and only for show."

The city has 120 days to hold a special election to fill Travis's seat on the Houston City Council.

A commercial litigation attorney by profession, Travis has served on the city council since 2015, according to the City of Houston.