VICENTE GONZALEZ

I would like to respond to two letters recently appearing in The Monitor. The first was by Jose C. Coronado, who lists all the things wrong with forgiving student loans (June 2). What he doesn’t mention is teenagers who were sucked in by unscrupulous online “universities” that totally misled their students. But it doesn’t stop there; other “educators” like cosmetology schools, HVAC and auto repair schools take their money and provide little. Then he’s critical of the Republican delegation that comes to the RGV in response to the lifting of Title 42.

The city of Hidalgo will be receiving a $7.5 million grant for the Payne Arena, which was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez said in a news release. Hidalgo has been awarded the Shutter Venue Operators Grant of $7,523,373.75 for the arena. The grant is funded by the Small Business Administration after Congress passed the Save Our Stages Act in 2020. “Our community venues were some of the hardest hit as we battled COVID-19,” Gonzalez, D-McAllen, said in the release. “Thanks to Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Vicente Gonzalez for a job well done,” Hidalgo Mayor Sergio Coronado said in the release.

It is the latest example of how Texas Democrats are on edge over the administration’s approach to high gas prices.

“The NRCC and TX GOP also injected $1.1 million in paid voter contact efforts into the Flores campaign,” he said. In stark contrast, the Democratic House Majority PAC announced a $112,000 television advertisement buy attacking Flores during the special election on June 8, less than a week from the June 14 special election. She filed to run in the special election on April 6 following her victory in the March Republican primary for the November contest. Federal Election Commission records do not distinguish between how much Flores raised and spent during the special election and during her primary victory. The special election occurred in the old District 34 boundaries, which included voters from Goliad, Bee, San Patricio and Nueces counties.

HARLINGEN — Mayra Flores, newly elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, vows to become the voice of the people across deep South Texas’ District 34. PlatformDuring her campaign, Flores drew support amid the national economy reeling from the coronavirus pandemic’s economic slowdown. “She is pro-life, pro-second amendment and pro-law enforcement.”American dreamOn the campaign trail, Flores weaved the fabric of the American dream into her life’s story. In 2019, she graduated from South Texas College with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. ‘More everyday Americans’Now, Flores is working as a respiratory care practitioner for a home-health agency.

Congratulations to Republican Mayra Flores of San Benito, who won Tuesday’s special election to serve out the term of District 34 U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela. Flores’ strong showing is impressive; she captured 51% of the unofficial vote in a four-way race. She will face U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, who currently represents District 15 but now lives in District 34 due to post-census redistricting. Is Flores willing to work to convince her fellow Republicans that reasonable immigration policies are necessary, and the need to craft those policies grows more urgent every day? We trust that Flores doesn’t merely sit pat and count on incumbency and party support to gather votes in November.

Her outright victory in a special election is the latest chapter in a topsy-turvy election cycle for South Texas, which Republicans have worked to turn into a new battleground.

The GOP’s first pickup of 2022 in Texas, plus a mixed outcome for Trump critics in South Carolina.

Republican Mayra Flores flips Democratic congressional seat in Texas special election

Mayra Flores won a special election to serve as the first Republican in the U.S. House from the Rio Grande Valley since 1871.

Republican Mayra Flores won Tuesday’s special election for the Texas District 34 congressional seat. Turnout for the special election was a dismal 7.30 percent. In Hidalgo County, Flores won 42.76 percent to Sanchez’s 52.07 percent. Tuesday’s special election, called by Abbott after Vela announced his early retirement, was held under the old District 34 lines, which Joe Biden won by four points in 2020. The state and national Republicans party, eager to flip South Texas from blue to red, see an opportunity in Flores.

Two hotly contested, Rio Grande Valley-centric congressional elections are headed for recounts. On Monday afternoon Ruben Ramirez, a moderate Democrat who ran against progressive Michelle Vallejo for the District 15 nomination, announced he would file a petition for a recount with the Texas Democratic Party on Tuesday. The Texas Democratic Party on Monday finished canvassing and certifying the votes, triggering the petitions for recount in the tight Democratic runoffs. In District 15, Ramirez lost to Vallejo by just 30 votes. In a statement, Ramirez said his campaign owes it to District 15 to ensure that every vote is accurately counted.

The GOP is spending big to capture an open congressional seat in South Texas — if only for a few months — as they try to create momentum toward a November election where they are newly targeting the region.

That general election also saw a significant change in the traditionally blue Texas congressional District 15. In that race, Gonzalez raised $1,257,881.45 and spent $907,999.77 to beat De La Cruz, who raised $422,613.21 and spent $416,551.57. As has been the pattern over the last few years, another significant change has impacted District 15, which could ultimately flip it red: redistricting. Now, District 15 has seven counties, including Hidalgo County, and stretches north and northeast of San Antonio and Bexar counties. The next filing deadline for De La Cruz and whoever ultimately secures the Democratic nomination is June 30.

Progressive Democrat Michelle Vallejo held on to a 23-vote lead early into Wednesday morning.

The Democratic runoff for congressional District 15 turned into a nail-biter late Tuesday night, with the progressive candidate leading the moderate by 23 votes as of deadline.

Two of the most closely watched races in the state will be decided during Tuesday’s primary runoff election, in part, by voters in the Rio Grande Valley.

U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays out of Louisiana ordered that Title 42 remain in place while a lawsuit led by Arizona and Louisiana goes to court. These states and 22 others argue that by attempting to phase out Title 42 the administration failed to consider the effects of its removal on border states. “I have made my concerns regarding the lifting of Title 42 very clear. Greg Abbott continued his criticism of President Joe Biden’s border policies in his reaction to Friday’s ruling. “We remain vigilant in fighting the lifting of Title 42 expulsions.”

No Republicans supported the bill, which suggests it's likely to fail in the Senate.

Democratic primary runoffs for two congressional districts and two legislative seats in South Texas highlight the candidates’ divergent visions for the party in a region the GOP is heavily targeting.

And while we are at it, how do people feel about all the Ukrainian immigrants coming into the country now? Take some time and look up the stats on immigration. He is pulling Disney’s self-governing status of nearly 60 years, whereby the company paid for its own police and firefighting entities. The cost to the surrounding counties is estimated at $1 billion — to be picked up by the local taxpayers. DeSantis plays Costello to Abbott and both of them are fast becoming the Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum of doom in their respective states.

HARLINGEN — The final resting place of military veterans is being debated in Cameron County, with officials gauging public support for a veterans’ cemetery here.

Hidalgo County's North Main Drain expansion is getting a big boost in funds thanks to a $1.2 billion infrastructure bill Congress OK'd last year.

An aviation program may be flying into McAllen ISD through its Career Technical Education Department beginning this fall. The program is designed to give high school seniors the chance to obtain private pilot and drone licenses.

The seats are held by U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen. A third vacant seat belonged to Filemon Vela of Brownsville.

The seats in question are held by U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen. A third belonged to Filemon Vela of Brownsville, who stepped down.

The seats in question are held by U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen. A third vacant seat recently belonged to Filemon Vela of Brownsville, who stepped down to take a private sector lobbying job.

The winner of the special election will replace former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, who resigned last month to work for Akin Gump.

Despite the city’s efforts, traffic at the international bridge here remained at a standstill Tuesday afternoon following a dayslong protest from truckers in Reynosa who are upset with Gov. Greg Abbott’s new inspection mandate, which is keeping them and their goods grounded on the bridge for days.

The race to be the next representative for Texas’ 15th Congressional District drew a handful of candidates vying for the Democratic nomination, six individuals who ranged from moderate to progressive.

Trucks delivering products from Mexico are facing hourslong waits at ports of entry.

By retiring and triggering a special election, Filemon Vela of Brownsville has opened up an opportunity for Republican candidate Mayra Flores.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez is calling for the revocation of U.S. visas for members of Mexico’s Federal Congress participating in the newly formed Mexico-Russia Friendship Committee.

The race will determine who finishes the term of former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville.

The company has been preparing for its first orbital launch of a combined Starship-Super Heavy, from Boca Chica, but first the FAA has to complete the PEA. The release date has been pushed back multiple times, most recently to April 29, the FAA announced recently. So we are actually approved from an environmental standpoint to launch from (launch complex) 39A. If they had been freaked out they would have called us right away — SpaceX, their lobbyists. Even if the first Starship orbital launch does end up blasting off from Florida — SpaceX is building that launch tower at 39A just like the one at Boca Chica — he doesn’t think SpaceX will abandon South Texas.

Filemon Vela has had enough. The five-term congressman from Brownsville, who decided not to run for reelection to his seat representing a district that stretches from the Mexican border to San Antonio, has announced that he will not serve out his term. As of Tuesday Vela had not said which day will be his last.

The Port of Brownsville will receive $68 million through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for deepening the Brownsville Ship Channel in order to accommodate larger vessels, money the port has long sought. Congressmen Filemon Vela and Vicente Gonzalez made the announcement Tuesday afternoon. The funds are part of $79 million allocated for “two historic water infrastructure projects that will impact South Texas through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” according to the announcement. “The $68 million investment to deepen the Brazos Island Harbor Channel at the Port of Brownsville in Texas will enable increased cargo movements, reduced transit times and improved operational safety,” according to the announcement. “Completing the Brazos Island Harbor deep draft navigation project is a high priority for both the Rio Grande Valley and the State of Texas as a whole,” Vela and Gonzalez said.

I just wish he could have expressed any positive news on our border and how to secure it. Macedonio LopezEdinburgSend helpwith careTo help suffering people in Ukraine, please make sure your help gets securely to the citizens suffering in need. The Washington Post suggests the following:“Click on the website for CARE, the international humanitarian juggernaut, and a pop-up window appears. Donations for CARE can be made here.”The Ukrainians are people in real need, devastated by a cruel, undeserved, evil, monstrous war. Those “ humanitarians” want to show they have compassion for immigrants but they don’t seem to have a problem with the surrender of our southern border to human smugglers, drug traffickers and other criminal organizations.

I just wish he could have expressed any positive news on our border and how to secure it. Macedonio LopezEdinburgSend helpwith careTo help suffering people in Ukraine, please make sure your help gets securely to the citizens suffering in need. The Washington Post suggests the following:“Click on the website for CARE, the international humanitarian juggernaut, and a pop-up window appears. Donations for CARE can be made here.”The Ukrainians are people in real need, devastated by a cruel, undeserved, evil, monstrous war. Those “ humanitarians” want to show they have compassion for immigrants but they don’t seem to have a problem with the surrender of our southern border to human smugglers, drug traffickers and other criminal organizations.

BROWNSVILLE — Democratic Rep. Filemon Vela of Texas said Thursday he will soon leave office for a job in the private sector rather than finish what was already his final term in Congress. The five-term South Texas congressman confirmed he was taking a job with Akin Gump, a law and lobbying firm. Vela, who represents Texas’ 34th District, announced last year that he would not seek reelection. Filemon Vela, who is in his fifth term, had been floated as a potential nominee for Biden’s Cabinet. Biden carried the district by 4 points, according to a data analysis by Daily Kos Elections.

BROWNSVILLE — Democratic Rep. Filemon Vela of Texas said Thursday he will soon leave office for a job in the private sector rather than finish what was already his final term in Congress. The five-term South Texas congressman confirmed he was taking a job with Akin Gump, a law and lobbying firm. Vela, who represents Texas’ 34th District, announced last year that he would not seek reelection. Filemon Vela, who is in his fifth term, had been floated as a potential nominee for Biden’s Cabinet. Biden carried the district by 4 points, according to a data analysis by Daily Kos Elections.

All over the country news outlets are showing solidarity with Ukraine by running stories and photos about local Ukrainians. The people of this country have little to no understanding of what totalitarian government is all about, and little desire to know. In addition, we have little understanding of despotism’s opposing system, democracy. Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate families of transgender children. He cited Attorney General Ken Paxton’s misbegotten opinion that “giving transgender children puberty blockers and hormone therapy could ‘legally constitute child abuse’.”Proponents have no shame.

A special election will determine who finishes Vela’s term, and while the winner will only serve for a short period, Republicans are already eyeing the contest to show momentum in South Texas.

The last traces of mid-1800s Fort Brownsville are a big step closer to coming under National Park Service protection. 268, legislation introduced by retiring U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela to make the surviving Fort Brown earthworks part of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. Zachary Taylor ordered the construction of Fort Texas in March 1846 in hopes of establishing the Rio Grande river the southern border of the United States. Fort Texas was renamed “Fort Brown” in his honor. It took place on May 8, 1846, five days after Arista launched his attack on Fort Texas.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez participated in a Zoom call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday to discuss developments regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how the United States could be helpful to the Ukrainian cause.

Representatives penned a letter to President Joe Biden and his administration calling for increased production of domestic energy. U.S. Reps Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, signed the letter in response to Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine and the resulting increase in gas prices. “The U.S. is the largest producer of oil and natural gas, and recently became the world’s top exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG),” the letter said. “We must unleash responsible domestic production to counter reliance on Russian oil and gas, while simultaneously cutting off Russia’s largest source of revenue. Now is the time to regain our energy independence and support our allies around the globe.”

The Democratic Party’s nomination for State Senator District 27 and House District 37 will be decided in a runoff election May 24, after no candidate in either race drew a clear majority of votes in Tuesday’s primary elections.

District 34 also includes Kenedy, Kleberg and Willacy counties. Flores is a respiratory care practitioner and chairs Hispanic outreach for the Hidalgo County GOP. With 88 percent of precincts reporting in Cameron County, Gonzalez had a total of 10,934 votes (58.18 percent). In Hidalgo County, with 77.8 percent of precincts reporting, Gonzalez had 8,889 votes (75.60 percent). Flores, with 10 percent of precincts reporting, was ahead of McCaffrey 1,505 votes (55.93 percent) to 773 (28.73 percent).

Rio Grande Valley congressmen reacted to the president’s address Tuesday evening. U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, said he agreed with the spirit of unity in Biden’s speech, saying that unity should undergird policy. “We must not let student loan forgiveness fall by the wayside,” he wrote. “President Biden must address the student loan crisis that is stifling the American dream and limiting the economic mobility of millions of Americans. That support, Cuellar wrote, should not undercut domestic policy.

Find the latest, updated election results for the 2022 primary election in Texas on March 1, 2022.

With more than 100 candidates on the ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries on Tuesday, voters in the Rio Grande Valley will have much to decide on.

With more than 100 candidates on the ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries on Tuesday, voters in the Rio Grande Valley will have much to decide on.

South Texas Democrats are facing an identity crisis and trying to distance themselves from out-of-state progressives after the party underperformed in the region in 2020.

Early voting begins Monday in the Republican and Democratic primary elections across the state that will decide who will be on the ballot in November's general election.

Early voting begins Monday in the Republican and Democratic primary elections across the state that will decide who will be on the ballot in November's general election.

KSAT 12 analyzed the campaign finance reports of congressional candidates in the San Antonio area, revealing who has the fundraising advantage heading into the primary.

The office of U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez is once again collecting letters for his annual Valentines for Vets program, now in its third year.

McAllen ISD’s Achieve Early College High School was presented Friday with a US flag that flew over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. in recognition of the national Blue Ribbon the school was awarded last fall.

MERCEDES — City officials here said Monday that they will use over $3.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding for its police department and to address drainage issues. Commissioner Leonel Benavidez, however, said Monday evening that the city initially anticipated nearly half a million more dollars. “We were getting the $4 million, then I saw the check for $3.6 (million), and it didn’t really add up. Addressing the Mercedes City Commission and the media inside ​​the legislative chamber, Gonzalez said the funding will help the city address its infrastructure issues, particularly drainage. He described Mercedes as the heart of drainage issues in the Rio Grande Valley.

The Republican candidates running to be the next representative for U.S. District 15 expressed their views and priorities during a candidate forum on Thursday.

Five Texans charged in connection with the Jan. 6 chaos have been sentenced so far — and four of those are serving prison time.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, knew as soon as he arrived at the U.S. Capitol building to watch the certification of the Electoral College votes that something was amok.

Garza, a former lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, had been running to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville. U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, is now running for Vela's seat after redistricting made Gonzalez's seat more competitive for Republicans.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez announced last week he’ll seek reelection in a new seat, leaving his 15th Congressional District open for the 2022 election. Candidate filing begins Nov. 13.

Texas lawmakers made Gonzalez’s current 15th Congressional District more competitive for Republicans. The representative now plans to run in the 34th District, which is safer for Democrats.

Texas gained two new seats in Congress based on population growth fueled by people of color. But the Senate’s proposal provides no new majority-Black or majority-Hispanic districts to reflect that growth.

With proposed maps out, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, says he might switch to a neighboring district where U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, is retiring. The initial maps are also sure to impact decisions in regional legislative races.

The Democratic incumbent, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, had a surprisingly close race last year as President Joe Biden underperformed across the region, and his 2020 challenger, Monica De La Cruz-Hernandez, is running again.

In Republicans’ bid to retake control of Congress, a traditionally Democratic stretch of South Texas has quietly become a top battleground.

Recent headlines about the influx of unaccompanied minors at the border have only intensified the GOP’s drive to turn South Texas into a new political background. The foundation for a South Texas-centered election cycle was laid in November, when Biden underperformed across South Texas in stunning fashion. “For the first time in generations, or maybe ever, we lost … South Texas counties with significant Hispanic populations. Hinojosa also suggested the GOP focus on South Texas "will ultimately help retain and gain other seats in tougher regions.”Cuellar may be the biggest question mark of the GOP’s three targets in South Texas. Much remains uncertain, and until the maps are drawn later this year, the future of South Texas politics is theoretical.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of House Republicans, announced Wednesday that it's targeting five Texas Democrats in the U.S. House as they seek to regain their majority in 2022. The list of targets is three more than the GOP seriously targeted last year and includes three Democrats in South Texas where the party underperformed in November. Republicans are especially emboldened after the NRCC's Democratic counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, targeted 10 GOP-held seats in Texas last election cycle and won none. But Biden underperformed in all three South Texas districts, carrying Cuellar's and Vela's seats by 4 points and González's by 2. And he has said South Texas is a priority as he begins his term as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the federal government owns less than 2% of the land in Texas. “Texas ... has been ravaged by the coronavirus and this recent Executive Order will hurt an already suffering community. Therefore, I urge the Biden administration to rescind this federal order and reevaluate the impact of this measure with input from relevant stakeholders and experts,” Gonzales said in a news release. Of the leases that are active, slightly more than 2.5 million acres are producing or have produced oil or gas. The letter does not mention where the four Texas Democrats stand on Biden’s decision to revoke the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

But Stewart and other South Texas voters who spoke to The Texas Tribune said the Democratic Party as a whole does not. And a similar swing by Mexican Americans in South Texas offset some gains Democrats made in the state’s suburbs. Trump’s statements condemning protesters and backing law enforcement connected with voters in South Texas, where a significant portion of the population either works in law enforcement or has friends or family members who do. I just think as a result, he didn’t make Latinos a priority until way later.”Some South Texas voters said they do not recognize the Democratic Party any more. Jay Peña, an attorney in Rio Grande City, said as a kid he was raised a Democrat like most people he knows.

Nearly every member of Congress from Texas has publicly condemned the police actions captured in the video. Thanks to the pandemic, House members are not engaging with each other face-to-face, which is typically vital to moving legislation into law. Despite the turmoil in Washington, U.S. House members were mostly in their own districts on Tuesday. "We can be united for change in our society and we can be thankful that law enforcement is enabling our First Amendment rights. Like the president, Texas Republicans have almost uniformly called for law and order in the same press releases where they express despair over Floyd's death.