Congratulations to Republican Mayra Flores of San Benito, who won Tuesday’s special election to serve out the term of District 34 U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela. Flores’ strong showing is impressive; she captured 51% of the unofficial vote in a four-way race. There might have been a tiny chance that a recount might have produced changes that would force a runoff, but election appears to have been well run and the second-place candidate, Democrat Dan Sanchez who drew 43%, already has conceded.

Flores serves out the unexpired term that ends in January and is the GOP nominee to win the seat outright in November’s general election. She will face U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, who currently represents District 15 but now lives in District 34 due to post-census redistricting.

The two lawmakers will be foes in November but until then they will be colleagues. We trust that they will be able to work together and with other South Texas representatives to present a united front in fighting for the needs of their constituents.

The special election drew national attention, as the Republican Party had made this traditionally Democratic region a primary target during this midterm election. Of course, local interest has been high, as much of Flores’ success has come from endorsing positions expressed by Donald Trump and his followers as well as the extremist group QAnon, which promotes ideas including that Democrats are Satan-worshiping pedophiles and that John F. Kennedy will return to earth this year as a Republican-allied savior.

Such rhetoric, however, is secondary to her performance as a lawmaker, and that is the primary interest for residents of the Rio GrandeValley.

During her campaigns, Flores has echoed many of the Trump camp’s hard-line stances regarding immigration. Flores herself is a native Mexican and her husband is a Border Patrol agent, so she should have personal insight into the matter that others, especially those ensconced half a country away in Washington, D.C. He highlights her parents’ work as migrant workers, and should be well aware of the harm that current immigration restrictions have caused to the Valley’s economy, especially the lives of farmers and shrimpers who can’t plant or harvest without people willing to take on the work that only immigrants traditionally are willing to do. Is Flores willing to work to convince her fellow Republicans that reasonable immigration policies are necessary, and the need to craft those policies grows more urgent every day?

We trust that Flores doesn’t merely sit pat and count on incumbency and party support to gather votes in November. She has some five months to represent this district and that in Congress she will show the same energy and hard word that made her campaign successful in fighting for her district.

Flores will be under a spotlight during the next few months. People across the country, especially those who will vote in November, will be waiting to see if, when conflicts arise between the needs of her constituents and the demands of party leadership, whom will she choose to represent?