Early voting starts Monday with a slew of competitive races on the ballot.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most hotly contested races — state and federal — that Rio Grande Valley voters will decide.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 15
This race is the closest congressional race in the state and one of the most competitive in the entire country.
Progressive Democrat Michelle Vallejo is facing an uphill battle in the newly redrawn District 15 which gained more Republican-friendly territory in last year’s redistricting.
She’s running against Republican candidate Monica De La Cruz who is running again after coming close to defeating the current District 15 congressman, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, in 2020.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 34
As part of the redistricting process, Gonzalez’s home was redrawn into neighboring District 34.
After U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela resigned from the seat in March, Republican Mayra Flores won a special election to finish out the rest of Vela’s term. Gonzalez is now running against Flores for a full term.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 28
After fending off a primary challenge from progressive Jessica Cisneros that sent him to a runoff, moderate Democrat Henry Cuellar is now facing Republican Cassy Garcia in his reelection bid.
Garcia, formerly the deputy state director for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, emerged the Republican nominee from a field of seven candidates during the March primary election.
STATE SENATOR 27
Democrat Morgan LaMantia and Republican Adam Hinojosa are running for state senator for district 27, a seat left open by outgoing state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr.
Lucio announced his retirement in November after holding the office since 1991.
HIDALGO COUNTY DA
Another open seat is up for grabs after Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. announced in November that he would not seek reelection.
The Democratic nominee is Toribio “Terry” Palacios, Rodriguez’s uncle, who resigned from his position as Edinburg municipal judge, an office he held for more than 25 years, to run for DA.
Palacios won a bitterly contested Democratic primary against Nereida Lopez-Singleterry, the municipal judge for the city of San Juan and a former associate judge for Hidalgo County Master Court 1, in March.
Palacios is now running against Republican nominee Juan Tijerina, an attorney. Tijerina was the lone candidate to run for DA in the Republican primary in March.
STATEWIDE RACES
In the race for Texas Attorney General, Democrat and Brownsville native Rochelle Garza, a civil rights attorney, is challenging Republican Ken Paxton who is running for a third term.
Then there’s also the race for governor where Democrat Beto O’Rourke is challenging current Republican Gov. Greg Abbott who is seeking a third term.
Early voting begins Monday and runs through Nov. 4.
Election Day is Nov. 8.
