Vicente Gonzalez holds back Republican surge, returns 34th Congressional District to Democratic control

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, celebrates at the watch party for his winning race for Texas’ 34th Congressional District in Brownsville on Nov. 8, 2022. (Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune)

BROWNSVILLE — U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has a message for South Texas: Democrats are here to stay.

The Democratic congressman vanquished the short-term incumbent Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, on Tuesday in this hotly contested race to represent the 34th Congressional District, which Republicans had targeted as pivotal to their efforts to sway more Latino voters to their camp. Decision Desk HQ called the races for Gonzalez shortly after midnight.