“There is nothing ‘beautiful’ about a bill that lowers taxes for the ultra-rich on the backs of our senior citizens, our children, and our veterans. Ripping away health insurance, raising food prices nationwide, increasing the cost of education, harming our senior citizens, and hurting federal workers’ retirement is shameful and I will not stand for it.” (Press Release- The Big Beautiful Bill, 5/22/25)​​
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“Never in the history of our country have we seen the governor of Texas bow down to a New Yorker. Gone are the days of tenacious and fiercely independent leadership in the Lone Star in State. I am ashamed to see such a blatant attempt to sell out key communities like my own in the Rio Grande Valley from the process. Our community is strong, and we deserve to be properly represented during this process and in Congress...we will not be silenced.” (Testimony to the Texas Senate and House Redistricting Committees demanding that both bodies hold in-person redistricting hearings in South Texas, 7/25/25)
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To hear Rep. Gonzalez directly, listen to this short video:
KRIS 6 interview with U.S. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Jr.
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BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
A native Texan, Congressman Gonzalez is a graduate of Del Mar College (AS), Emory-Riddle Aeronautical University - Corpus Christi (BS) and Texas Wesleyan University (JD). After law school, Gonzalez opened his own legal practice.
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Elected in 2016 to represent Texas’s 15th District, Gonzalez later won the redrawn 34th District in 2022, defeating Republican Mayra Flores. He beat her again in a 2024 rematch.
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Gonzalez serves on the House Financial Services Committee, sitting on the Subcommittees on Capital Markets and on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions. He is Communications and Outreach Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition and Chair of the Congressional Oil and Gas Caucus. He belongs to the Problem Solvers Caucus, New Democrat Coalition, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
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ON THE ISSUES
Gonzalez’s current priorities include securing FEMA aid for South Texas flood victims (March 2025), supporting veterans and the military, expanding health care access, and investing in education. A Blue Dog Democrat, he emphasizes fiscal responsibility, strong national defense, and bipartisan cooperation.​
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The Lugar Center ranked him among the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress based on his voting record.
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POLITICS IN TEXAS
Texas remains solidly Republican, with the GOP holding every statewide office, both U.S. Senate seats, and majorities in the state legislature. The state’s 38-member House delegation includes 25 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and one vacancy. The Texas Supreme Court is entirely Republican.
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At Trump’s request, the State Legislature and Governor Abbott has redrawn Congressional district lines to bolster Republican chances of retaining control of the U.S. House in’26. As a result, five seats currently held by Democrats at risk include Texas 34 - Congressman Gonzalez’s district. The new map gives Republicans better odds to flip this seat.
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With the completion of the 3/3/26 primary, Republican Eric Flores will face Vincente in the November 2026 general election.
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Following the most recent Congressional redistricting process in Texas, both the Cook Political Report and Sabato Crystal Ball rate this race as Toss-Up.
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