![]() He frequently brought colleagues for fundraisers in Texas and used the opportunity to show powerful members his district’s infrastructure needs. “Obviously, that’s something on our mind given the situation in the past election, but we’re certain there’ll be a number of good candidates on the Democratic side … and we are confident that the seat will remain Democratic in then end.”ĭuring his time in Congress, Vela has focused on agriculture and defense issues, and he is a popular member of the Democratic caucus. Borjon acknowledged that the race to replace him will likely be tougher than in the past, given Republicans’ performance in South Texas. Vela has unique name identification as both an incumbent and as a member of a prominent local political family. “Texans deserve a congressman who is going to stand up to Biden’s open border agenda, not defend it.” “Filemon Vela knows Biden’s border crisis will cost him his seat and Democrats their House majority,” said House GOP campaign arm spokesperson Torunn Sinclair. Four years later, President Joe Biden won the seat by 4 points. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton carried the district by a 22-point margin. Moreover, the district saw a dramatic swing on the presidential ballot. But national Republicans identified him as a target in 2022 after the GOP performed surprisingly well along the Texas-Mexico border in 2020, and this year’s redistricting process gives the party an opportunity to redraw the district in a more favorable manner for the party. Vela won reelection in 2020 by nearly 14 percentage points in a district that has generally been considered safe for Democrats. … Whoever replaces him has big shoes to fill.” “I will expect he will continue to do that as he closes out his term. “Filemon was extremely dedicated to the people of South Texas during the time he has served in Congress,” Borjon added. Jose Borjon, a former senior adviser to Vela and a longtime confidant, said Vela never meant to overstay his time in Congress and felt now was the time to move on. “It is now time to allow other residents of South Texas the opportunity to fulfill this wonderful privilege for which I will be forever grateful,” he added. I will continue to focus on maintaining a Democratic House and Senate Majority in my capacity as a member of Congress and Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, while working diligently for the people I am so grateful to represent. “I will not be seeking reelection to the House of Representatives in 2022. “It has been an honor to represent the citizens of the 34th District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives for the last eight years,” he said in a text to The Texas Tribune. News of his retirement was first reported by Axios. We are going to flip this seat and bring our South Texas values of faith, family and freedom to Washington.Vela was first elected in 2012 and represents much of the South Texas Gulf Coast. I will never abandon our community and am looking forward to competing in the special election for Texas’ 34th District. Republican nominee Mayra Flores, who is running for Vela’s seat in November against Gonzalez, was upset about the early retirement during a time of economic and security “crisis” on the South Texas border.įlores told KVEO Reporter Sydney Hernandez on Friday: “Filemon Vela is abandoning us while we have a crisis on our border and families can’t afford groceries and gas because prices are so high. He will be missed, and I wish him luck as he embarks on his next chapter,” Gonzalez said. For the past nine years, Congressman Vela was a fighter. Congressman Vela has been a friend, a mentor, and a staunch advocate for our veterans, our students, small businesses and region as a whole. “I join all South Texans in thanking Congressman Filemon Vela for his service and dedication to our region in Congress. DHS says Title 42 ending on May 23 but removals of ineligible migrants will continue ![]()
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