UVALDE, Texas – Days after the Uvalde City Council voted in favor of a special election for the mayoral seat, Kimberly Rubio is throwing her hat in the race.
Rubio lost her daughter, Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio, in the Robb Elementary School shooting on May 24, 2022.
Since then, Rubio has turned into a gun violence prevention advocate and started a nonprofit called “Lives Robbed,” which is pushing for changes to gun legislation.
Rubio tweeted a photo of the Uvalde Leader News article about her announcement. She’s worked at the local paper since she was a teen in a variety of different roles.
In the tweet, Rubio wrote about her grief in mourning Lexi but vowed, “I will honor your life with action. This is only the beginning.”
I grieve for the woman you would have become and all the difference you would have made in this world. I grieve for the woman I was when you were still here. But, one part of me still exist, I am still your mom. I will honor your life with action. This is only the beginning💛 pic.twitter.com/s3rknjwsCC
— Kimberly Mata-Rubio (@kimrubio21) July 27, 2023
Current Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin announced he is running for the District 80 Texas House of Representatives seat.
State Rep. Tracy King shared his plans to retire and will not be seeking re-election.
McLaughlin has served as Uvalde’s mayor since 2014 and recently won re-election for a four-year term in 2020. According to his website bio, “McLaughlin is a strong conservative Republican.”
Rubio, a mom of five, is getting support from parents of other Robb victims online with Gloria Cazares, mom to Jackie, writing on TikTok, “I am so proud to call you my best friend.”
@nicrubio18 #lexirubio #lexirubiosmom #motherdaughter #love #loss #grief #griefjourney #uvalde #robbelementary #gunviolenceawareness #fyp
♬ original sound - Lexi’s mom
Veronica Mata, mom of Tess, shared the post on Facebook writing “We are so proud of you” and Berlinda Arreola, step grandma of Amerie Jo, wrote “Let’s Vote her in!!”
Following the election on Nov. 7, the new mayor will take office on the 24th day after the general election. The mayor’s term lasts four years.