Dem Rep. Filemón Vela won’t seek reelection under new Texas map

“I will continue to focus on maintaining a Democratic House and Senate majority in my capacity as a member of Congress and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, while working diligently for the people I am so grateful to represent,” Vela said in a statement.

Vela saw his victory margin shrink in 2020, thanks to Trump’s surge in the region. He beat Rey Gonzalez, an underfunded challenger, with 55 percent of the vote in 2020. He won against that same candidate with 60 percent in 2018.

Trump’s unexpected success with Latino voters in the Rio Grande Valley and the upcoming Texas redistricting have heightened the pressure on Vela and Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, who represent adjourning districts.

Both Cuellar and Gonzalez believe that Trump’s gains in the valley were a fluke, and voters will revert back to Democrats with Trump off the ballot. But Republicans are eager to capitalize on the 2020 results — and they will be able to carve up the region in redistricting. Texas is on track to gain two or three seats in reapportionment, which will be announced next month.

Vela’s seat, which spans 300 miles and includes the city of Brownsville and part of McAllen, was solidly Democratic territory before 2020. Democratic presidential candidates carried it with roughly 60 percent of the vote in 2012 and 2016, but Joe Biden received just 52 percent in 2020.

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.) became the first House Democrat to announce their retirement last week. Vela’s retirement was first reported by Axios.

Sarah Ferris contributed to this report.