Monica De La Cruz Explained

Monica De La Cruz
State:Texas
Term Start:January 3, 2023
Predecessor:Vicente Gonzalez (redistricting)
Birth Date:11 November 1974
Birth Place:Brownsville, Texas, U.S.
Party:Republican
Education:University of Texas, San Antonio (BBA)
Children:2

Monica De La Cruz (born November 11, 1974)[1] is an American politician and insurance agent from the state of Texas. She has represented in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023. De La Cruz is the first Republican and first woman to represent Texas's 15th congressional district since its creation in 1903.[2] [3]

Early life and career

De La Cruz graduated from James Pace Early College High School in Brownsville, Texas, and the University of Texas at San Antonio, studying marketing.[4] She later attended the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City, studying Spanish. She interned for Turner Entertainment before working for Cartoon Network Latin America.[5] Before being elected to the U.S. Congress, she was an insurance agent and business owner. De La Cruz resides in the Rio Grande Valley, where she grew up.[6] [7]

U.S House of Representatives

Elections

2020

In 2020, De La Cruz ran in, and lost to incumbent Democrat Vicente Gonzalez by three percentage points.[8]

2022

Endorsed by Donald Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, De La Cruz ran again in the 15th district in 2022, while Gonzalez was redistricted to . De La Cruz defeated Democratic nominee Michelle Vallejo in the general election, earning 80,869 votes to Vallejo's 67,913.[9] [10] [11] [12] When she took office in 2023, she became only the eighth person to represent this district since its creation in 1903, and the first Republican. By a matter of a few months, she was the second Republican elected from a Rio Grande Valley in over a century; the first, Mayra Flores, was elected to a partial term in a neighboring district in 2022. De la Cruz is the first Republican elected to a full term in this area in modern times.

Tenure

In March 2024, De La Cruz delivered the Republican response to President Joe Biden's 2024 State of the Union Address in Spanish.[13]

Caucus memberships

Committee assignment

Political positions

De La Cruz voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[16] [17]

Personal life

De La Cruz has been married and divorced twice and has two children. De La Cruz's split from her second husband in 2021, Juan Gabriel Hernandez, resulted in an acrimonious divorce.[18] [19] De La Cruz is an Episcopalian.[20]

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: October 2021 . Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) Research Report .
  2. Herrera, Jack. Monica De La Cruz Defeats Michelle Vallejo, Flipping a South Texas Seat for the GOP, Texas Monthly, November 8, 2022.
  3. Gonzalez, Valerie. Calculated move: Texas Republicans drew District 15 to fit their needs, MyRGV, November 12, 2022.
  4. Web site: Incoming Rep. Monica De La Cruz - R Texas, 15th, Member-elect - Biography LegiStorm . www.legistorm.com . 22 December 2022 . en.
  5. Web site: Vote Smart | Facts For All. Vote Smart.
  6. News: Monica De La Cruz wins Republican primary in more competitive Texas district- AP. Reuters . March 2, 2022. www.reuters.com.
  7. Web site: Texas Republicans hope to send their first Latina to Congress. NBC News. March 9, 2022 .
  8. Web site: De La Cruz: I do not care which Democrat I face in CD 15 general election. Steve. Taylor. June 5, 2022. Rio Grande Guardian.
  9. Web site: In Texas' most competitive congressional race, neither candidate is running toward the center. Matthew. Choi. August 24, 2022. The Texas Tribune.
  10. Web site: Latina candidates reshaping South Texas politics in 3 key congressional races. Maria. Recio. Austin American-Statesman.
  11. Web site: South Texas Democrats push back as Latina Republicans close in. Suzanne. Gamboa. www.nbcnews.com. October 22, 2022 .
  12. Web site: Neukam . Matthew Choi and Stephen . Monica De La Cruz becomes first Republican to win in 15th Congressional District in South Texas . The Texas Tribune . en . 9 November 2022.
  13. Web site: Rep. Monica De La Cruz to deliver GOP’s Spanish-language response to State of the Union. Benjamin. Wermund.
  14. Web site: Candidates . 2022-12-26 . RMSP PAC . en.
  15. Web site: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy . Financial Services Committee . U.S. House of Representatives . March 20, 2023.
  16. News: Demirjian . Karoun . 2023-10-25 . House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-10-30 . 0362-4331.
  17. Web site: Washington . U. S. Capitol Room H154 . p:225-7000 . DC 20515-6601 . 2023-10-25 . Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session . 2023-10-30 . Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . en.
  18. News: Top GOP congressional candidate in Texas accused of abusing teenage daughter of estranged husband. November 9, 2021. The Washington Post. Scherer. Michael. October 22, 2022.
  19. News: Scherer . Michael . GOP House candidate Monica De La Cruz will be allowed to return to her Texas home in April amid legal fight with her estranged husband . 14 April 2023 . Washington Post . January 12, 2022.
  20. Web site: Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress. Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023.

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