The 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. District 16 represents most of El Paso County, minus some neighborhoods in the eastern portions of the Lower Valley and East Montana. U.S. representatives serve two-year terms and are paid $174,000 a year.

Who’s running for this seat?

Adam Bauman

Adam Bauman, did not respond

Manuel Barraza

Manuel Barraza, 70, is a former judge

Hector Cabildo

Hector Cabildo, did not respond

Raul Castaneda

Raul Castaneda, did not respond

Marcy Chavez

Marcy Chavez, did not respond

Deliris Montanez Berrios

Deliris Montañez Berrios, 55, retired Border Patrol agent, self-employed

Ruben Rios

Ruben Rios, 49, is a teacher

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?

Adam Bauman: Did not respond.

Manuel Barraza: The economy is my No. 1 priority. It is unacceptable that the federal minimum wage hasn’t moved in years; it is a stagnant policy that hurts our workforce. On Day 1, I will file a bill to increase the national minimum wage. This isn’t just a labor issue — it’s an economic necessity. Raising wages reduces poverty, decreases reliance on social services, and ensures El Paso families can finally get ahead.  

Hector Cabildo: Did not respond.

Raul Castaneda: Did not respond.

Marcy Chavez: Accountability of mispent money.

Deliris Montañez Berrios: Immigration reform and border security — work in a bipartisan effort on a pathway to residency and/or citizenship after a fair amount of time has passed, without any serious and proven criminal background, and continuous proof of not being a burden to our U.S. citizens.  

Ruben Rios: My top priority is to let El Paso families keep more of their hard-earned money. Would like to work with local office holders to give property tax relief. Many families feel like they are paying too much on their property taxes and feel like they are paying rent on their own homes.

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

Adam Bauman: Did not respond. 

Manuel Barraza: To combat the rising costs of food, housing, and healthcare, I will file legislation on day one to increase the federal minimum wage. A stagnant wage is a policy failure that makes basic necessities unaffordable. By raising the wage, we increase household purchasing power, allowing families to better afford rent and medical care while reducing poverty and the need for social services. 

Hector Cabildo: Did not respond.

Raul Castaneda: Did not respond.

Marcy Chavez: Start a foundation.

Deliris Montañez Berrios: Government Health Care must be made available to any citizen who opts in.  Private insurance should be made available to those who want it. Housing must be made affordable for every El Paso family according to their income.  Property taxes must be reduced across the board and eliminated after a house is paid in full. The cost of utilities must be made affordable, fair, and just. The cost of food must be regulated in relation to the current economy, but it must be made affordable to our families. These are basic human necessities.

Ruben Rios: Create more energy at home and cut any carbon taxes. this makes transportation of goods more expensive and raises costs. Support balanced budgets and overspending. We need to cut the fraud. Overspending and not having balanced adds to the sneaky hidden tax no one talks about, the inflation tax.

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

Adam Bauman: Did not respond.

Manuel Barraza: To improve health care access, I will champion the direct physician care model. Our current system prioritizes insurance billing over patient needs, leaving families and veterans stuck in a ‘pay-to-play’ maze. I support legislation to allow Medicaid and VA funds to be used for DPC memberships. This removes the insurance middleman, providing low-income and border residents with 24/7 access to a doctor for a flat fee. It’s about care, not coverage, and medicine, not paperwork.  

Hector Cabildo: Did not respond.

Raul Castaneda: Did not respond.

Marcy Chavez: Audit and review the spending.

Deliris Montañez Berrios: Health care must be affordable and accessible to every citizen. To address the low-income in families, we first need to address the minimum wage. Our veterans have earned the benefits of having health insurance to address their medical needs. As a veteran myself, I pledge to make El Paso the Veteran Capital of the USA by conducting oversight over our El Paso VA Director and their Executive Management Officials. Border residents should not be denied affordable healthcare.  As per the U.S. Constitution, we have a responsibility to take care of emergencies for undocumented immigrants. Our country can always get into diplomatic agreements with the country of residence to get reimbursement.

Ruben Rios: Increase competition with providers. Subscription services with doctors/monthly flat fee primary care. price transparency, if people are going to be helped make sure the money is going to the people in order for insurance companies to compete instead of throwing massive subsidies at the insurance companies directly. If you already have health insurance you like, leave it alone.

What policies do you favor for immigration and border enforcement?

Adam Bauman: Did not respond.

Manuel Barraza: I support a comprehensive approach to immigration that prioritizes both national security and human dignity. This includes significant investments in border technology and personnel to ensure our ports of entry are secure, paired with a legal pathway to citizenship for those already contributing to our communities. Any pathway must be orderly, safe, and efficient, replacing the current backlog with a streamlined system that ensures a fair and predictable outcome for all applicants. 

Hector Cabildo: Did not respond.

Raul Castaneda: Did not respond.

Marcy Chavez: Apply by actual process.

Deliris Montañez Berrios: Border enforcement should be a priority for immigration officers, as it is a matter of national security. Per DHS regulations, every immigration officer must identify themselves, regardless of whether they are in uniform or plain clothes, if on duty at the time of the encounter. As a former Border Patrol federal agent in our district, I would never have worn a facial mask to conduct operations. Trust and respect are earned, not given just because someone wears a badge and a firearm.

Ruben Rios: I would like proper vetting. Many people have suffered from the lack of vetting. We have had women raped and men and women killed. We are a nation of immigrants but also a nation of laws.

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

Adam Bauman: Did not respond.

Manuel Barraza: I am running as a Republican because I believe in common-sense leadership and the protection of American values. This begins with ensuring the integrity of women’s sports and private spaces, and maintaining national sovereignty through a strong, secure border.

My vision for our economy is centered on rebuilding America; by investing in infrastructure — from roads and bridges to broadband — we will create good jobs and stimulate long-term growth. I stand firmly for God, family, and country, and I am proud to represent a party whose values so closely align with my own.

Hector Cabildo: Did not respond.

Raul Castaneda: Did not respond.

Marcy Chavez: I have always been an honest hard worker and intend to do the responsibilities of a congresswoman to the fullest.

Deliris Montañez Berrios: I have always shared conservative values and have never misled anyone. I was forced by our local and state democratic party to run in the Republican Party because they told me directly and in public that there are no conservatives in the democratic party. They stated many times that conservatives fall in the Republican Party. That the local democratic party cannot accept and welcome with open arms candidates for contested primaries, the fact that they violate their own bylaws, state, and federal laws, and the fact that the vast majority of our Hispanic community shares conservative values, but is unaware of it, as they continue to be indoctrinated and lied to.

Ruben Rios: I am pro-life. I believe in secure borders, support for first responders, our veterans, and our educators. I want to make sure we leave this a better place for the children of El Paso and our country.

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