The 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. District 23 stretches from El Paso’s Lower Valley through West Texas to San Antonio. U.S. representatives serve two-year terms and are paid $174,000 a year.

Who’s running for this seat?

Gretel Enck

Gretel Enck, 57, is retired

Santos Limon

Santos Limon, 52, is a businessman

Katy Padilla Stout

Katy Padilla Stout, 40, is an attorney.

Photo not submitted

Bruce Richardson, did not respond.

Candidate Questionnaires

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words. Responses have been edited to fit the word count and for grammar.

What is your top priority if you were to be elected to this office and how would you work to achieve it?

Gretel Enck: My immediate priority is stop the policies of the past year of the Trump administration that are harmful and inhumane: restore cuts to health care and other services, reinstate the Dept. of Education and other government agencies, and pull ICE out of our cities. We have a long road to build a society where everyone is valued and an economy that serves working Texans, but first we need to stop the extreme policies being wielded against us. I will do this through tireless cooperation with other democrats, and reaching across the aisle to build bridges with Republicans to figure out where we have common ground.

Santos Limon: To uphold our U.S. Constitution and hold everyone accountable for their actions against our Constitution. My VOTE in the House of Representatives will determine who goes and who stays. 

Katy Padilla Stout: My top priority would be making life more affordable for working families. This would include stopping tariffs, which drive up costs for Texans. It would also include expanding Pre-k so families can have help with childcare, and expanding healthcare access for Texans, so that they don’t go bankrupt because someone gets sick. 

Bruce Richardson: Did not respond.

What specific actions would you take in Congress to help El Paso families struggling with high costs for food, housing and health care?

Gretel Enck: I support a higher national minimum wage; more investment in young people with universal pre-K and free two-year post-high-school education including community college and technical/apprentice programs; and a reversal of Trump-era tax cuts for billionaires. In addition, non-profits and local communities are pioneering successful community development projects such as 100 Families, funded in part by HHS. HUD also funds community grants. Local communities generally know what they need, but lack the financial resources and the social capital to make it happen. Federal agencies can play a role in vibrant cities like El Paso in building bonds and seeding success. 

Santos Limon: VOTE, to stop defunding all social programs like SNAP and other dependable federal programs. Help drive down the cost of living by reforming the IRS system and increase federal funding for more affordable housing and protect our Social Security, Medicare programs.  

Katy Padilla Stout: The first thing the new Congress should do is to exert its constitutional power to stop the Trump Tariffs which are driving up costs across the board. We need a tax code which empowers the middle class instead of giving tax cuts to billionaires.

Lastly, the Congress should expand access to high quality universal pre-k which would greatly help working families and provide a historic investment in the next generation of Americans.

Bruce Richardson: Did not respond.

How would you improve health care access, particularly for low-income families, veterans and border residents?

Gretel Enck: I believe health care is a basic right for every person. I support reinstating the ACA tax credits; expanding Medicaid so more Texans can receive care; and protecting and strengthening Medicare so seniors can access the doctors and treatments they depend on. We need a universal system of healthcare so everyone has access to primary care, mental health care, reproductive health care, dental care, and preventive services. I support a Medicare-For-All type of program. In addition to ensuring mental health is covered in any and all care programs, we need to restore and increase funding to SAMHSA, part of HHS, and other government agencies supporting mental health. 

Santos Limon: We must tackle all financial hurdles, expanding mobile/telehealth services, boosting community-based care, reducing workforce shortages, we must simplify VA enrollment, and addressing social determination like transportation. Work with states to bring more funds in a joint venture to produce more healthcare workers, mobile clinics, telehealth, integrated care models. 

Katy Padilla Stout: Congress needs to strengthen and expand access to the Affordable Care Act. It has been a shame that our state leaders have turned away our own tax dollars to help our constituents have access to health care. I also support increased funding for Federal Community Health clinics in both urban and rural areas. 

Bruce Richardson: Did not respond.

What policies do you favor for immigration and border enforcement?

Gretel Enck: I support Rep. Escobar’s bipartisan Dignity Act. It secures our borders, fixes our visa backlog, and grants legal status to hardworking, law-abiding immigrants already living in the US. Data shows that immigrants commit less crime and provide more entrepreneurship than non-immigrants. So let’s pull ICE out of our cities, stop the inhumane rhetoric, support Border Patrol to do the work we need and want at our borders, and fast-track citizenship for Dreamers. In addition, cross border commerce is critical to our region’s economy. We need a robust border patrol to ensure the efficient and safe flow of commerce.

Santos Limon: Pathway to Citizenship and have more Federal Immigration judges at our southern borders.  

Katy Padilla Stout: We should increase our border security to keep our citizens safe, while also giving reasonable pathways to citizenship or legal status for those already in our communities engaging productively. More reasonable pathways to enter would cut down on the amount of people coming across illegally, and would allow us the opportunity to properly vet who is gaining access to our country. 

Bruce Richardson: Did not respond.

Why are you running as a Democrat and what beliefs and values lead you to run in that party?

Gretel Enck: I was an adolescent in the Reagan years of trickle-down economics — which never worked and harmed working people, the devaluing of labor, and a celebration of greed. The Democrats have a history of creating policies that help working people thrive. The Affordable Care Act allowed 21 million people to attain coverage, and more through medicaid expansion. More equitable tax policies created more steady and secure economies under democratic administrations.

Although I support capitalism as an economic way of life, predatory capitalism not only harms our economy and takes cruel advantage of working people, it also eats away at our very democracy as wealth inequality chokes our communities. I consider myself Progressive because, in fact, I am working hard for progress.

Santos Limon: I am running as a Democrat. We are the party that upholds our U.S. Constitution, believes in union labor, affordable health care, Medicare and the party that protects Social Security. 

Katy Padilla Stout: I am a lifetime Democrat because I believe that a rising tide raises all boats. I believe we are all connected and strengthening the middle class is the best path to broad based economic growth. I am the daughter of a former migrant worker and the granddaughter of immigrants. The American Dream needs to be protected for our children and our grandchildren and I believe the Democratic Party and its principles for helping working families best promotes these beliefs.

Bruce Richardson: Did not respond.

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