After issuing a statement in September that she planned to retire Jan. 10 due to health issues and parenting responsibilities, Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Pflugerville has changed her mind.
Dukes confirmed via email to
The Texas Tribune that she will not be resigning her post as representative for House District 46.
Dukes has served in the Texas House for more than 20 years. She is currently the subject of an investigation by the Texas Rangers and State Auditor's office for allegedly seeking reimbursement for travel that she was not entitled to. The Travis County District Attorney's office is actively reviewing the case.
While Dukes' decision took many by surprise, Republican candidate Gabriel Nila, who ran against Duke in the Nov. 8 election, said he was not shocked by her decision.
"We were looking at any possibility out there and this was one of the possibilities that we looked at when she said she was going to retire," said Nila. "Am I shocked? Am I surprised? This is Dawnna being Dawnna and thinking that she's above the law and thinking she is above the people she is supposed to represent."