The Latest Breaking News from De La Cruz

The Rio Grande Valley has long been a Democratic stronghold in Texas. Republicans invested heavily there but didn't see major gains. Still, marginal progress has Democrats worried.

The Republican Party set its sights on South Texas and other areas around the U.S.-Mexico border in the 2022 midterm elections in part of its push for a so-called “red wave” to usher in a large House majority.

Republican efforts to lean into immigration concerns fell short on the border, along with a lackluster GOP showing nationwide.

After finally flipping the Democratic district, Monica De La Cruz vowed to “represent all of South Texas” and likely will be influential on border issues.

ATLANTA — A Frontier Airlines flight headed to Florida had to land in Atlanta late Friday after a passenger was spotted with a box cutter, according to the airline.

Monica De La Cruz (R) defeated Michelle Vallejo (D) and Ross Lynn Leone (L) in the general election for Texas’ 15th Congressional District on November 8, 2022. De La Cruz is the first Republican to be elected to represent the district since it was created following the 1990 Census.

The GOP flipped only one of the three congressional seats it wanted this cycle. But the party made inroads down the ballot.

The GOP took just one of three Congressional seats from Brownsville to Laredo, and short-lived incumbent Mayra Flores has been sent packing.

De La Cruz defeated Democrat Michelle Vallejo, a political newcomer who ran on a platform of progressive social policy and close family ties to the region.

The Democratic congressman ousted Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, who had won a special election in June. The race was key to Republican efforts to win over Hispanic voters in South Texas.

First lady Jill Biden and U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy were in Texas Sunday to help members of their respective parties energize voters before Election Day.