![]() ![]() ![]() Texas, for example, saw its population grow by some 4.2 million since 2010, giving the state potentially three more seats.States led by Republican governors - and GOP state legislatures, which in many cases redraw congressional maps - should receive more seats than Democratic states.The big picture: With population changes reflected in the 2020 census, the country’s 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be reapportioned among the states ahead of the 2022 congressional elections. Customs and Border Protection, reveal the crowded, makeshift conditions at the border, according to photos provided to Axios. His district includes Donna, where temporary overflow facilities, operated by U.S."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," Vela said in a statement.Why it matters: Vela won his seat with 55% of the vote in 2020 and is the first Texas Democrat to announce he's leaving the House ahead of redistricting next year. Filemon Vela, who represents a southern Texas border district and is vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, will not run for re-election to the House next year. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Vela was best known in his time for firing off a missive at then-candidate Donald Trump, telling him to “take your border wall and shove it up your ass.” He was also an early support of Biden’s campaign for president, and he urged his fellow Texans and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to get behind Biden’s bid for the Democratic nomination. 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. Vela was first elected in 2012 and represents much of the South Texas Gulf Coast. ![]()
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