Report: Dallas County Sheriff To Resign, Run For Governor

DALLAS (CBS11) - The Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Carol Donovan told CBS11 Wednesday afternoon that Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez has turned in her resignation to Judge Clay Jenkins effective December 8 and will run for governor.

However, hours later, Judge Jenkins tweeted he had received no such notification.

And the Dallas County Sheriff's Office tweeted Valdez had not turned in a resignation letter.

Earlier this month Valdez said exploring a run in 2018 as a Democrat and challenge Republican Governor Greg Abbott.

"You can't just jump into something like this without any kind of thinking about it and research," said Sheriff Valdez earlier this month. "Seeing who's going to back you and when I feel comfortable with that, (it's) either yes or no."

Sheriff Valdez took office in 2005 and won her fourth term last year with more than 58 percent of the vote.

Minutes after the revelation Valdez was resigning, Dallas Attorney Pete Schulte tweeted he's going to run for Dallas County Sheriff.

He said, "With the official announcement of Dallas Co @SheriffLupe Valdez resignation to run for Governor of Texas, I'm preparing to file as a candidate for DalCo Sheriff in the Democratic Primary that will be now be held March 6, 2018. 2 years sooner then planned but excited about it!"

Schulte later clarified after seeing the Judge Jenkins tweet that if Valdez does not resign, he would wait until 2020 to run for sheriff.

Carol Donovan has not returned our call and text messages Wednesday night even though she did speak with us earlier.

• Greg Abbott