In Texas’ most competitive congressional race, neither candidate is running toward the center

From left: Monica De La Cruz, Congressional District 15 Republican candidate, and Michelle Vallejo, Democratic candidate. (Credit: The Texas Tribune)

In Texas’ most competitive congressional race this November, conventional wisdom would suggest that the candidates make their way toward the middle.

Democrats face fresh challenges in the newly drawn South Texas district that would have voted for former President Donald Trump by 2.8 percentage points in 2020, and massive infusions of cash from national Republicans hoping to tap into the area’s economic concerns amid record inflation. Meanwhile, Republicans will be pitching in a Hispanic-majority region that has delivered Democrats victories for decades.