Texas Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez is considering quitting his current district to run for a seat in a district he believes he can more easily win, according to a new Politico report.
The news comes following the release of the state’s new congressional map’s proposal that would move Gonzalez into a district won in the last presidential election by former President Donald Trump.
“If the Texas congressional maps that have been proposed are adopted, a large portion of my constituency will be in District 34,” Gonzalez told Politico in a statement.
“I have received many calls from across South Texas encouraging me to run in this district. If, in fact, these are the final maps, I will very seriously consider running in 34 and continuing my representation of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley,” he added.
NEWS: Rep Vicente Gonzalez (D) signals he will likely vacate his swing seat to run in #TX34, the safe Dem seat of retiring Rep Filemon Vela
Gonzalez has $2M banked + Vela’s support. But that leaves his #TX15 (a Trump +3 seat) open/more ripe for GOP pickup https://t.co/9AhRqBHIEK
— Ally Mutnick (@allymutnick) October 1, 2021
The Texas Democrat has voted along party lines throughout his service as a Congressman, including support for efforts to defund the police.
The congressional map, placing him in a district leaning Republican, would certainly put his reelection at risk.
Under a new GOP-drawn plan, the eastern half of Hidalgo County is moved into Congressional District 34, making U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez’s Congressional District 15 more of a swing seat. https://t.co/xgaWn5Bvqk via @RioGGuardian
— Rio Grande Guardian (@RioGGuardian) September 28, 2021
The new move may help, but it will also leave his home district vulnerable to a Republican win, saving himself, but still giving up another Democratic seat.
