To stay in Congress, Mayra Flores bets Democratic South Texas is ready for an outspoken conservative

U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, stands outside of Our Lady of Sorrows church in McAllen on July 9 after an anti-abortion conference. (Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune)

When Mayra Flores won the special election for Texas’ 34th Congressional District last month, she became the first Mexican-born woman to serve in Congress — and one of a few Republicans to ever represent the Rio Grande Valley in Washington, D.C.

That was the easy part.