U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela's resignation announcement sparks a sudden special-election scramble in hotly
U.S. Rep. Filemon Velas resignation announcement sparks a sudden special-election scramble in hotly contested South Texas
by Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune
Democrats are suddenly staring down a special election in South Texas, an increasingly competitive region, after U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, revealed Thursday he plans to leave Congress early.
The winner of the special election will get to serve for only a short period, but Republicans are already eyeing the election as an opportunity to show their growing strength in the region.
The National Republican Congressional Committee called Velas early exit the latest sign that the national environment is unfavorable for Democrats and that South Texas is a top battleground for Republicans. Democrats scoffed.
Republicans talk a big game about flipping seats in South Texas, but this is the party that voted against historic infrastructure investments and creating good-paying jobs in the Valley, Monica Robinson, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement.
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https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/24/south-texas-congressional-special-election/