Southeast Texas community leader Pastor Michael Cooper announces his candidacy for governor

BEAUMONT, Texas — Southeast Texas community leader and pastor Michael Cooper has announced he is running for governor of Texas.

He is a former Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor and the United States Senate. The local pastor has deep roots in Southeast Texas.

Cooper is well known for his 30-year career as an automotive executive. Currently, he is the local president of the NAACP.

He told a news conference Thursday that he wanted to come forward to help teachers in Texas.

“I want to make sure our teachers come first, because our kids come first. We should have the best, not the second best. Formerly, education was a ministry, a vocation, but now they are called to move away from it. So I make sure education is at the top of the ticket when I take office, the first hundred days.

The Texas gubernatorial election will take place in November 2022. The primaries will be held next spring.

When the time comes, Cooper will face incumbent Governor Greg Abbott, the highest-funded governor in recent Texas history who is seeking reelection, according to the Texas Tribune.

Despite the incumbent governor or any new nominees, Cooper says he is running for the job.

“I am a candidate, from this day forward, to be governor of the great state of Texas,” Cooper said. “Is there anything too difficult for God? No, there isn’t, absolutely not. I don’t care who is there now. All I know is that those who were there before they let us down.”

Cooper joins a handful of other Southeast Texas candidates vying.

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick announced Thursday that he is seeking another term for his position.

Currently, five Beaumont residents have announced their intention to run for mayor of the city for the upcoming elections in May 2021.

Beaumont businessman Roy West, Jr. has announced his intention to run for mayor on July 15, 2020.

Beaumont firm WL Pate, who served on Beaumont City Council for 13 years, announced his intention to run the following day.

In December 2020, Beaumont businesswoman Biguita Hernandez-Smith announced her intention to run for mayor.

Councilor Robin Mouton, who currently represents the Fourth Ward on Beaumont City Council, filed for mayor of the city on February 2, 2021.

Businessman LaShon D. Proctor also announced he was running for mayor of Beaumont on February 2.