HOUSTON, TX, May 9, 2019 – For longer than many of its voters have been alive, Houston’s 18th Congressional District has known one representative. That’s likely to change for the better in 2020 thanks to Dr. Bimal Patel, a native of Houston, a trusted optometrist, and a business owner in the 18th. Dr. Patel—or Bimal, as he prefers to be called—will challenge incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee in next year’s March 3rd Democratic primary.

Bimal was born and raised in Houston, and graduated from the University of Houston’s College of Optometry in 2013. After completing an internship that included rotations at the Naval Medical Center and several other military installations in San Diego, Bimal returned home and soon opened his own practice. In the process, he developed a keen sense of the challenges facing younger voters and business owners alike, and of the untapped opportunities possible in Houston. Among his top policy priorities are reforms to the nation’s healthcare and student loan systems.

“Honestly, if I disagreed with Ms. Jackson Lee on everything, I’d be running against her in the general election,” he quips. “We share commitments to economic justice, diversity, and civil liberties. But the 18th can only have the representation it deserves from someone who’s truly devoted to what’s going on right here. Who values substance over flash, and trusts that if they have a fair shake, residents of the 18th will use their genius and drive to do amazing things.”

When Ms. Jackson Lee first won her seat in Congress back in 1994, she beat incumbent Craig Washington in the Democratic primary. After 25 years in office, the last few months of which have been marred by scandal and her removal from positions of power, Ms. Jackson Lee faces growing discontent within her own district, signaling that the time has come for a fresh commitment to the district’s priorities by a new representative.

Her removal as chair of an important House subcommittee follows her resignation as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Both falls from grace are tied to a lawsuit alleging that she fired an aide who complained about sexual assault under her watch. The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence has also cut ties with Ms. Jackson Lee.

Voters in the 18th district have also grown skeptical of Ms. Jackson Lee’s growing national profile at a time when so many local concerns remain unresolved, such as epic flooding and vastly underfunded infrastructure.

For his part, Bimal prefers to focus on the district’s future.

“It’s clear to me that we need someone who’s truly rooted here, and who’s ready to work full-time for the 18th,” he says. “The 18th isn’t a springboard or a platform for a national audience. It’s home. It’s where my friends and neighbors live and work. We deserve better, more focused leadership than we’ve had lately in Congress.”