{"id":167260,"date":"2026-02-16T22:41:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T22:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/167260\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T22:41:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T22:41:07","slug":"primary-elections-u-s-representative-candidates-for-district-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/167260\/","title":{"rendered":"Primary Elections: U.S. representative candidates for District 23"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As Congress continues to grapple with border enforcement, immigration policy and the rising cost of living, voters in Texas\u2019 23rd Congressional District are weighing sharply different visions for how \u2014 and whether \u2014 Washington can address those challenges in one of the nation\u2019s most closely watched border regions.<\/p>\n<p>The sprawling district, which stretches from El Paso\u2019s Lower Valley through West Texas to the San Antonio area, has drawn crowded primary fields from both major parties.<\/p>\n<p>Four Republicans and four Democrats are seeking their party\u2019s nomination in the March 3 primary election.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Republican field of candidates includes incumbent Tony Gonzales, who is being challenged in the primary by Keith Barton, Brandon Herrera and Francisco \u201cQuico\u201d Canseco. The Democratic primary pits Gretel Enck, Santos Limon, Katy Padilla Stout and Bruce Richardson.<\/p>\n<p>Early voting runs Feb. 17-27, with Election Day on March 3. If no candidate in a party primary receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers advance to a runoff May 26. The general election is Nov. 3.<\/p>\n<p>The 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. U.S. representatives serve two-year terms and are paid $174,000 a year.<\/p>\n<p>The races feature a mix of incumbency, prior congressional experience and first-time candidates, with campaigns centered largely on border security, immigration enforcement, economic pressures on families and the role of federal government in a geographically vast and politically diverse district.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Primary: Incumbent Faces Challengers from the Right<\/p>\n<p>The Republican candidates are largely united in emphasizing border enforcement, immigration restrictions and opposition to federal regulation, though they differ in how they describe the federal government\u2019s role in addressing those issues.<\/p>\n<p>Some have argued that current federal immigration policies have failed and that Congress should take a more aggressive approach to border security. While candidates frequently called for stronger enforcement, changes to asylum policy or a rollback of regulations, not all provided details about how those goals would be achieved legislatively or how they would build support for such measures in Congress.<\/p>\n<p>The primary also reflects divisions between candidates with governing experience and those positioning themselves as political outsiders, particularly in their critiques of Congress and federal agencies. In interviews and written responses, some candidates pointed to broad policy priorities without outlining specific bills, timelines or funding mechanisms.<\/p>\n<p>Tony Gonzales, Incumbent<\/p>\n<p>Gonzales, 45, did not respond to El Paso Matters\u2019 request for an interview, but has centered much of his campaign messaging on border enforcement and immigration policy.<\/p>\n<p>In a Feb. 8 appearance on CBS\u2019 \u201cFace the Nation,\u201d Gonzales defended the use of administrative warrants by immigration authorities, saying, \u201cAdministrative warrants work,\u201d and that law enforcement should have \u201cevery tool they need\u201d to apprehend \u201cconvicted criminals.\u201d Administrative warrants are issued by federal immigration agencies and do not require approval from a judge, unlike judicial warrants, which must be authorized by a court upon a showing of probable cause. Gonzales did not outline any specific legislation he would introduce or support to clarify warrant standards or address legal concerns raised by civil liberties groups.<\/p>\n<p>Gonzales also signaled firm opposition to broad immigration relief proposals, stating on the CBS show, \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what\u2019s not going to be in there, amnesty for illegal aliens.\u201d While he drew that line clearly, he did not detail what specific enforcement reforms he would pursue in ongoing negotiations or how he would build bipartisan support for them in the House.<\/p>\n<p>During the interview, Gonzales said he favors prioritizing the removal of \u201cconvicted criminal aliens\u201d and described focusing enforcement in jails as safer than \u201cgoing house-by-house.\u201d When asked about the detention of a 5-year-old with a pending asylum claim, Gonzales responded, \u201cWe have to have a nation of laws,\u201d adding, \u201cWe can be compassionate, and we can also enforce our laws.\u201d He did not specify what standards he believes should govern family detention or how Congress should address asylum case backlogs.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond immigration, Gonzales has argued that Congress must address economic pressures facing families, though in public remarks he has largely framed those concerns in broad terms and has not outlined district-specific proposals to lower housing, food or health care costs.<\/p>\n<p>Gonzales raised $148,234 during the most recent reporting period, according to his Jan. 30 filing with the Federal Election Commission. He reported more than $1.02 million in total contributions for the election cycle and had about $2.48 million in cash on hand at the close of the reporting period.<\/p>\n<p>His campaign received contributions from corporate political action committees, including $5,000 from Gulf States Toyota Inc. Federal Political Action Committee and $2,000 from Booz Allen PAC, along with transfers from his affiliated Tony Gonzales Victory Fund.<\/p>\n<p>The campaign reported $276,927 in operating expenditures during the reporting period. Major expenses included more than $51,000 to Lilly &amp; Company for finance consulting, printing and postage; $5,000 to Everest Consulting for political strategy consulting; $5,000 to a San Antonio-based digital consultant for advertising; and payments to compliance and database management vendors.<\/p>\n<p>Keith Barton<\/p>\n<p>Barton, 46, a retired Marine Corps officer and logistics executive, said he is running because he believes District 23 has been \u201ccompletely ignored\u201d outside of election cycles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am not a politician,\u201d Barton said during his interview with El Paso Matters. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to talk to me, it\u2019s just going to be\u00a0 normal \u2014 you\u2019re talking to just a regular Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barton grew up on a small farm in Alaska before serving 20 years in the Marine Corps as a reconnaissance Marine, helicopter pilot and logistics officer. He described himself as \u201ca combat disabled veteran, like, real combat outside the wire.\u201d After leaving the military, he worked in large-scale logistics operations, including overseeing a 2.6 million\u2013square-foot Walmart facility and managing a 24-hour Airbus support operation.<\/p>\n<p>He said that operational background shapes how he views the border.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe border\u2019s not done,\u201d Barton said about security measures. \u201cIt needs to be built in depth, and it needs to be changed from a single push of money to a regular line item in the budget.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He compared border enforcement to establishing layered defenses in the military: \u201cFirst you have a physical barrier. You\u2019ll have patrols. You\u2019ll have \u2026 surveillance and choke points.\u201d Because cartels \u201care extremely smart businesses with an illegal commodity,\u201d he said enforcement must continually adapt rather than rely on one-time funding efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Barton said he supports stronger enforcement against unlawful crossings while also accelerating legal immigration processing.<\/p>\n<p>Barton said he strongly opposes illegal immigration while supporting legal immigration pathways. \u201cWe have the technology for both in and out goods and services and people to speed this up.\u201d He said it should not take \u201c10 years to get in the country\u201d for qualified applicants, though he did not outline specific statutory changes he would pursue to reform visa processing timelines.<\/p>\n<p>On spending and congressional process, Barton said he would focus less on introducing sweeping standalone bills and more on leveraging committee work and oversight authority. \u201cMost freshmen congressmen have the problem \u2014 they go after funding. You don\u2019t go after funding. You go after funding with the savings on top of it,\u201d he said, arguing that identifying efficiencies could allow projects to move forward without significantly increasing federal expenditures.<\/p>\n<p>He criticized lengthy legislation, saying, \u201cCongress has this terrible thing of putting Band-Aids on everything. You\u2019ve got an 800-page bill, you have no clue what it says.\u201d He said many issues could be addressed through more targeted proposals focused on what he described as root causes.<\/p>\n<p>On cost-of-living concerns, Barton said expanding energy production in West Texas and investing in vocational training would create higher-paying jobs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEnergy is beautiful for West Texas,\u201d he said. \u201cThe biggest thing is getting real vocational training now and creating the jobs through energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He argued that trade and vocational programs tied to energy development could raise household incomes and broaden the district\u2019s economic base.<\/p>\n<p>Barton did not file a campaign finance report for the most recent reporting period.<\/p>\n<p>Francisco R. \u201cQuico\u201d Canseco<\/p>\n<p>Canseco, 76, an attorney and former member of Congress, represented District 23 from 2011 to 2013. He is seeking to return to the seat more than a decade after leaving office.<\/p>\n<p>Canseco did not respond to El Paso Matters\u2019 request for an interview. In written questionnaire responses to El Paso Matters, he said his priorities are \u201cstrengthening families, protecting communities and preserving the constitutional foundations of our country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On border security, Canseco said Congress should restore policies such as \u201cRemain in Mexico,\u201d remove incentives that encourage illegal immigration, \u201cdefund sanctuary-cities,\u201d support law enforcement and combat human trafficking. He also said the immigration system \u201cmust insure the safety and security of our nation\u201d and should prioritize American citizens and the national economy.<\/p>\n<p>He did not outline specific legislative proposals or describe how he would build support for those changes in the current Congress.<\/p>\n<p>On economic policy, Canseco said Congress should reduce regulations that he argues increase housing, energy and transportation costs; expand domestic energy production; cut federal spending; and make the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent. He also called for repealing the federal estate tax and reforming the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act, saying they represent federal intrusion into property rights.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing health care, Canseco said the Affordable Care Act should be reformed by repealing provisions he said drive up costs while preserving protections for preexisting conditions. He also called for \u201cHealth Freedom Accounts\u201d and greater flexibility for states to design health care systems that reflect local needs.<\/p>\n<p>On veterans\u2019 issues, Canseco said the Department of Veterans Affairs \u201cmust be reformed,\u201d calling the agency inefficient and saying veterans should have the ability to use a \u201cCard\u201d to see a provider of choice. He did not detail how such a system would be structured or funded.<\/p>\n<p>Canseco reported $32,000 in contributions to himself during the most recent reporting period, according to his Jan. 31 year-end filing.<\/p>\n<p>Canseco also loaned his campaign $48,050 during the reporting period, bringing total receipts for the period to $80,050. He reported more than $201,600 in cash on handand $171,490 in outstanding debts and obligations.<\/p>\n<p>The campaign reported $6,250 in expenditures during the reporting period, including $3,125 filing fee payments to the Republican Party of Texas. Additional outstanding debts listed in the report include legal and compliance fees, consulting services and prior election-related expenses.<\/p>\n<p>Brandon Herrera<\/p>\n<p>Herrera, 41, a firearms manufacturer and social media personality, is mounting his second campaign for the seat after narrowly losing to Gonzales in the 2024 Republican primary runoff. That race exposed ideological divisions within the party, particularly over border enforcement and Gonzales\u2019 willingness to support bipartisan legislation.<\/p>\n<p>In a telephone interview with El Paso Matters, Herrera said his campaign centers on what he describes as restoring federal authority at the border and reasserting congressional control over spending. He argued that the current immigration system has incentivized unlawful entry and that Congress has failed to exercise its constitutional authority.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor being the biggest border district in the entire country, we need somebody who\u2019s gonna be stronger in that way,\u201d Herrera said, arguing that Congress should \u201cput up all the barriers we can, both physical and legal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Herrera said he would support reinstating policies such as \u201cRemain in Mexico,\u201d tightening asylum eligibility standards and increasing both physical barriers and surveillance infrastructure along the southern border. He also said enforcement should prioritize removing individuals who have entered unlawfully and those with criminal records. He did not detail specific legislative text he would introduce or how he would navigate competing proposals within the Republican conference.<\/p>\n<p>Herrera also framed border security as an economic issue, arguing that instability at the border strains federal resources and diverts funding from domestic priorities. He said federal immigration enforcement should be paired with reforms that discourage future unlawful crossings, though he did not specify what metrics he would use to measure success or how he would address humanitarian considerations tied to asylum claims.<\/p>\n<p>Federal budget data show that Congress has appropriated billions of dollars annually for immigration detention and enforcement operations in recent years. The American Immigration Council <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org\/fact-sheet\/the-cost-of-immigration-enforcement-and-border-security\/?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">reports<\/a> that funding for immigration detention alone has exceeded $3 billion in recent fiscal years, while immigration courts and asylum processing receive significantly less. The Migration Policy Institute has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.migrationpolicy.org\/article\/trump-immigrant-detention?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">estimated<\/a> that average daily detention costs exceed $150 per detainee. Analysts have noted that detention capacity and enforcement spending have grown even as immigration court backlogs remain high.<\/p>\n<p>On fiscal policy, Herrera attributed inflation and rising consumer costs to federal spending and regulatory expansion. \u201cAll of your tax dollars go to paying down the interest on our debt that we\u2019ve accumulated, which is over $38 trillion now. It\u2019s completely unsustainable,\u201d he said, arguing that reducing federal expenditures and expanding domestic energy production would help stabilize prices. He called for cutting what he described as \u201cwasteful\u201d spending but did not identify specific federal programs he would target.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>U.S. importers and consumers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kielinstitut.de\/publications\/news\/americas-own-goal-americans-pay-almost-entirely-for-trumps-tariffs\/?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">absorb the vast majority of tariff costs<\/a>, meaning higher import duties can translate into higher prices for households and businesses, research from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy found. Additional analyses summarized by <a href=\"https:\/\/econofact.org\/are-tariffs-raising-u-s-retail-prices?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Econofact<\/a> have found that tariffs can raise retail prices for both imported goods and competing domestic products, depending on market conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Herrera also emphasized limiting what he views as federal overreach, saying Congress should reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses and expand domestic manufacturing. He argued that stabilizing the tax code and lowering compliance costs would create economic growth, though he did not outline a detailed proposal for tax reform.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the interview, Herrera positioned himself as an outsider candidate, contrasting his background with career politicians in Washington. He said voters are seeking representatives who will \u201cactually fight\u201d for conservative priorities rather than compromise on key issues.<\/p>\n<p>Herrera raised $4,621 during the most recent reporting period, according to his Jan. 30 filing with the Federal Election Commission. He reported $139,768 in total contributions for the election cycle and had about $721,738 in cash on hand at the close of the reporting period.<\/p>\n<p>The report shows Herrera loaned his campaign $100,000 in September 2025 and previously loaned $50,000 in 2023, bringing his loans to $250,000.<\/p>\n<p>The campaign reported $139,768 in operating expenditures during the reporting period. Major expenses included $50,000 and $45,000 payments to Texas Strategy Group for campaign consulting, along with database services, compliance consulting, shipping and credit card processing fees.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Primary: Competing approaches to border policy, federal oversight<\/p>\n<p>Democrats seeking the District 23 seat have centered their campaigns on immigration reform, economic equity and health care access, while also drawing distinctions on how the federal government should balance border enforcement with humanitarian considerations.<\/p>\n<p>The candidates vary in professional background and political experience, but several emphasized during interviews that the district\u2019s size and diversity require sustained attention beyond election cycles.<\/p>\n<p>While each candidate addressed border security and immigration policy, their proposals generally focused more on asylum reform, due process protections and economic development than on expanding physical barriers or enforcement infrastructure. Some candidates outlined specific policy changes, while others framed their campaigns around broader principles of accountability and federal investment.<\/p>\n<p>Gretel Enck<\/p>\n<p>Enck, 57, a former National Park Service employee and first-time candidate, said she decided to run after more than two decades in public service.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor 25 years, my job \u2014 my paid job \u2014 was in public service working for the federal government,\u201d Enck said in an interview with El Paso Matters. \u201cI am not done serving my communities or my country in this way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Enck most recently led efforts in Marfa to preserve the historically segregated Blackwell School, which became a National Historic Site after years of community organizing and documentation. She said that experience \u2014 which involved fundraising, coalition building and navigating federal processes \u2014 prepared her to serve in Congress.<\/p>\n<p>On federal policy, Enck pointed to specific legislation she would support. She said she would back the Social Security Expansion Act, which would raise the income cap so higher earners contribute more into the system. \u201cTo me, that\u2019s a pretty modest ask,\u201d she said, adding that the proposal would shore up Social Security for decades.<\/p>\n<p>On immigration, Enck said she would support Rep. Veronica Escobar\u2019s Dignity Act and \u201cfast tracking citizenship for DACA people.\u201d She also said, \u201cIn this past year, I am convinced we need to abolish ICE,\u201d while adding that she supports Border Patrol and recognizes the importance of cross-border commerce in the district. Enck did not detail what agency structure would replace Immigration and Customs Enforcement or how such a restructuring would be implemented legislatively.<\/p>\n<p>On health care, Enck identified Medicare for All as a long-term goal and said Congress should extend Affordable Care Act subsidies and protect Medicaid funding in the near term. \u201cSo many people that I\u2019ve talked to are so afraid of losing what they have,\u201d she said. While she described Medicare for All as a solution to coverage gaps, she did not outline how such a system would be financed or transitioned from the current insurance framework.<\/p>\n<p>Enck also called for increased federal investment in housing programs and social services, arguing that agencies such as Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services must be adequately staffed and funded. \u201cEverything that I want to do \u2026 is about, \u2018How do we take care of our people?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the interview, Enck framed her campaign around addressing wealth inequality and expanding social safety net programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe staggering wealth inequality in this country is a choice,\u201d she said, adding that taxing unrealized capital gains is one approach she supports. She did not specify what tax rate structure she would pursue or how such a proposal would advance in the current Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Enck raised $15,986 during the most recent reporting period, according to her Federal Election Commission filing covering Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025. She also loaned her campaign $10,000 during the reporting period.<\/p>\n<p>She reported $6,724 in cash on hand at the close of the reporting period and $10,000 in outstanding debts owed to herself.<\/p>\n<p>The campaign spent $24,261 during the period, including payments for consulting services, digital advertising on platforms such as Meta, yard signs and printed materials, voter file access and a filing fee paid to the Texas Democratic Party.<\/p>\n<p>Santos Limon<\/p>\n<p>Limon, 52, a civil engineer and international infrastructure consultant, is making another bid for the seat after running in 2024. He said his professional background in engineering, rail and energy informs how he approaches federal policy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a civil engineer, we work with clients and developers and even federal and state entities,\u201d Limon said in an interview with El Paso Matters. \u201cI might not have been a politician, but I\u2019ve been around politicians \u2026 I learned how the sausage is made.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Limon said he spent months in Washington last year building relationships and studying federal funding streams. He argued that District 23, which stretches across more than 100 miles of border, requires a representative who understands how to leverage federal resources.<\/p>\n<p>On economic development, Limon outlined an ambitious vision centered on high-speed rail, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. He said he has been advocating for a high-speed rail line connecting El Paso and San Antonio, arguing it could generate between 130,000 and 160,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly, through infrastructure, housing and related industries.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a vision for the future of our congressional district,\u201d he said. \u201cMy aim is to bring high-paying jobs to the district.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Limon also called for expanding wind and solar projects, apprenticeships and certifications in renewable energy, cybersecurity, welding and health care technology. \u201cMy goal is to slash unemployment with free apprenticeships, certifications in renewables, cybersecurity, welding and healthcare tech,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>While he described the job creation potential of those initiatives, he did not outline how a high-speed rail project would be funded at the federal level or whether private-sector partnerships would be required.<\/p>\n<p>On social programs, Limon said he would \u201cfully fund\u201d SNAP, Social Security and Medicare, arguing that District 23\u2019s poverty levels require greater federal support. He referenced census data showing persistent poverty and said the district remains one of the poorest in the nation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we keep ignoring that we are the poorest district in our nation\u2026 shame on him,\u201d Limon said, referring to incumbent leadership. \u201cI will fight to fully fund all these programs that these communities depend on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He did not specify how he would offset increased spending within the broader federal budget.<\/p>\n<p>On health care, Limon said veterans in rural parts of the district face long travel times for medical appointments. He proposed expanding mobile VA hubs and increasing federal facilities in rural communities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cImagine your grandfather at 90 years old having to travel four hours just to get to one spot,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to bring more of these federal facilities closer to the communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Regarding immigration, Limon said Congress should increase the number of federal immigration judges stationed at the border and pursue comprehensive reform through bipartisan legislation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t need to invent anything,\u201d he said. \u201cThe bills have been drafted. They\u2019re just sitting there for someone to go find them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also said long-term undocumented residents should be vetted through a structured pathway process, beginning with those who have lived in the country for decades. He acknowledged he did not have a specific bill number in mind but said previous proposals could be revived.<\/p>\n<p>Limon did not file a campaign finance report for the most recent reporting period.<\/p>\n<p>Katy Padilla Stout<\/p>\n<p>Padilla Stout, 40, said her campaign is rooted in social safety net protections, health care access and reducing costs for working families across District 23.<\/p>\n<p>An attorney who has represented foster children across Texas and previously worked as a public school teacher, Padilla Stout said her decision to run was shaped in part by debates over SNAP benefits and other federal assistance programs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the impetus definitely was the SNAP benefits,\u201d she said, describing how cuts to food assistance programs affect vulnerable children. \u201cKnowing how vital that pipeline is for them not just to eat, but to survive was really, really impactful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Padilla Stout has framed affordability as the central issue in the race. She argues that middle-class families are being squeezed by student loan debt, child care costs and health insurance premiums.<\/p>\n<p>On student loans, she said many borrowers are \u201cmaking those payments for 10 years and now our balance is more than what we started with,\u201d attributing that to interest structures that increase long-term debt burdens. She supports federal student loan reform but did not identify a specific proposal she would introduce.<\/p>\n<p>She also backs universal pre-K, a higher child tax credit and paid parental leave, pointing to other industrialized countries that provide those benefits. \u201cThere\u2019s no reason why we shouldn\u2019t be able to,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Health care, she said, would be her first priority if elected. Padilla Stout supports expanding Affordable Care Act subsidies and increasing funding for community health clinics, particularly in rural and border areas. She sharply criticized Texas\u2019 decision not to expand Medicaid under the ACA, arguing that federal funds were declined for political reasons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey were able to get access to millions and millions of dollars \u2026 They said, no, we don\u2019t want that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>She suggested that federal-run clinics could help ensure access in states that refuse Medicaid expansion, though she did not specify what statutory changes would be needed to implement such a model.<\/p>\n<p>On trade policy, Padilla Stout argued that current tariff levels are harming small businesses in the district. She described speaking with a longtime store owner who said he could no longer afford to restock certain goods because of increased import costs. Padilla Stout called the current tariff structure \u201cunconstitutional\u201d and said Congress must reassert its role in trade oversight, though she did not outline a detailed legislative pathway for doing so.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding immigration, Padilla Stout said enforcement and expanded legal pathways should move in tandem. She argued that limited visa availability contributes to unlawful crossings and said increasing legal entry options would allow for more effective vetting.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you tell people, \u2018Do it the right way,\u2019 but you only have a 3% chance of being able to come \u2026 they\u2019re going to look for alternative measures,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, she cautioned against enforcement strategies that overwhelm local communities, saying border security should not \u201ctake over entire communities in a way that\u2019s not productive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Padilla Stout said her background as a teacher and foster care attorney has shaped how she approaches representation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was a teacher who would give up my cellphone to parents,\u201d she said. She said she would apply that same accessibility to the congressional role, emphasizing direct communication and visibility across the district\u2019s 29 counties.<\/p>\n<p>Padilla Stout raised $23,035 during the most recent reporting period, according to her campaign filing covering Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025. She reported $9,346 cash on hand at the end of the period and no outstanding debts.<\/p>\n<p>Her fundraising included both monetary and in-kind contributions. The Texas Democratic Party filing fee of $3,125 was reported as an in-kind contribution, along with expenses for graphic design, website hosting and printing services. Her campaign spent about $21,081 during the reporting period, largely on operating expenses such as campaign materials and digital services.<\/p>\n<p>Bruce Richardson<\/p>\n<p>Richardson, a retired U.S. Army officer and former federal official, is also seeking the Democratic nomination. Richardson previously served in national security and intelligence roles and has emphasized experience in federal governance as a distinguishing factor in the race.<\/p>\n<p>Richardson did not respond to El Paso Matters\u2019 request for an interview. In a January profile published by the San Antonio Report, Richardson said his campaign centers on border policy, national security and what he described as restoring stability to federal institutions. He argued that immigration reform must balance enforcement with expanded legal pathways.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBorder security and immigration reform have to move together,\u201d Richardson said in that interview, adding that Congress must invest in immigration courts and processing capacity to reduce backlogs.<\/p>\n<p>Richardson also emphasized veterans\u2019 issues and government accountability, pointing to his military service and experience working within federal systems. He said he supports strengthening benefits for veterans and improving oversight of federal agencies to ensure funds are spent effectively.<\/p>\n<p>On economic issues, Richardson said inflation and housing costs are straining families across the district. He called for targeted investments in infrastructure and workforce development while also supporting measures to reduce prescription drug prices. While he outlined broad policy goals, he did not detail specific legislation he would introduce.<\/p>\n<p>Richardson did not file a campaign finance report for the most recent reporting period.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tLoad more posts\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p class=\"error\">\n\t\t\t\tSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and\/or try again.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As Congress continues to grapple with border enforcement, immigration policy and the rising cost of living, voters in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":167261,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[138,140,139,39794],"class_list":["post-167260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-el-paso","tag-el-paso","tag-el-paso-headlines","tag-el-paso-news","tag-election-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167260"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167260\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/167261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}