Grand Prairie Mayor Pro Tem Junior Ezeonu to Step Down from City Council, Launches Campaign for State House
City's youngest council member in history enters Democratic primary for House District 101
By: Malcom Chakery
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Dec. 1, 2025) — Grand Prairie Mayor Pro Tem Junior Ezeonu announced today he will resign from his city council position to run for Texas House District 101, entering a Democratic primary race that will test his progressive platform across a majority-minority district covering portions of Arlington, Grand Prairie and Mansfield.
Ezeonu, who made history in 2021 by defeating a 12-year incumbent in a runoff election to become the youngest council member in the city’s 162-year history, has filed for the Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2026.
“I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the residents of Grand Prairie for the last four years,” Ezeonu said. “This was a very difficult but necessary decision. I look forward to continuing to fight for the residents of Arlington, Grand Prairie and Mansfield.”
During his tenure on the Grand Prairie City Council, Ezeonu compiled a record focused on economic relief and worker compensation. He successfully pushed to reduce property taxes twice, raised the city’s minimum wage for part-time employees, and increased pay for full-time city workers from $15 to $17.82 an hour. He also helped launch the VIA Grand Prairie rideshare program, which provides $3 rides for residents and visitors.
Ezeonu describes himself as a progressive leader with pragmatic local government experience — a perspective he plans to bring to the Texas House. His platform includes raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding affordable homeownership opportunities, fully funding public schools, and repealing the private school voucher system.
“This contested primary will focus on experience and leadership,” said Ezeonu, who has built a following among younger voters through his podcast and has conducted candidate-training programs to prepare future local leaders.
“I stand by my record and with my community, and I am asking the residents of House District 101 to vote for me and continue our proud Democratic legacy in the Texas House with a new generation of leadership ready to work on day one,” Ezeonu said. “Now is our time, and our legacy to continue.”