| Eddie Morales | |
| State House: | Texas |
| District: | 74th |
| Term Start: | January 12, 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Poncho Nevárez |
| Birth Name: | Heriberto Morales Jr. |
| Birth Date: | 24 January 1975 |
| Birth Place: | Piedras Negras, Mexico |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | Hellen Martinez |
| Children: | 3 |
| Education: | University of Texas, Austin (BA) St. Mary's University, Texas (JD) |
Heriberto "Eddie" Morales Jr. (born January 24, 1975)[1] is an American attorney and politician. He has represented the 74th District in the Texas House of Representatives since 2021. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico in 1975, Morales graduated from Eagle Pass High School in Eagle Pass, Texas in 1993.[2] [3] He then went on an attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a BA in Political Science and a double minor in Business and Spanish in 1997. Morales later earned his Juris Doctor from the St. Mary's University School of Law in 2000. Since then Morales has worked for Langley & Bannack back in Eagle Pass.[3] During his high school years, he helped at his family's business, Piedras Negras Tortilla Factory in Eagle Pass.[2]
Morales announced in November 2019 to run for the Texas House of Representatives District 74th seat, that was being held by Poncho Nevárez at the time.[2] Representative Nevárez announced in late 2019, that he would not seek re-election for the 87th legislature.[2] Morales won the 2020 election for the seat against Ruben Falcon (a Republican) with 53.9% of the vote in November 2020.[4]
Morales ran for re-election in 2022 against Katherine Parker (Republican) and won with 55.7% of the vote.[5]
Morales supports legal immigration, expanding worker visa permits and bracero-type visas for farming and agriculture. He is also in favor of a controlled and secured border using a combination of manpower, advanced border security technology and a physical border.
Morales is in favor of increasing the basic allotment for public schools, including teacher raises.
Morales supports expanding Medicaid, so that all receive quality and affordable healthcare. He stated that six of the 12 counties have three or less physicians. Three counties within the district have zero physicians servicing their communities. Morales is also an advocate for mental health resources for West and South Texas.
Morales supports more funding in his district for transportation, as he believes roadway access between communities through a modernized roadway is essential for the safety of our citizens and the growth of communities. He states that cities and counties in the district cannot afford significant infrastructure investments.[3] [6]