Republican Eric Flores launched a campaign on Monday to oust Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) and flip Texas’s 34th Congressional District red. Flores, an Army veteran and lawyer from Mission, announced his bid to challenge Gonzalez as Republicans in the state’s GOP-controlled state legislature eye redistricting efforts,

With few options to prevent the Republican majority from passing a new congressional map, Democrats threatened to filibuster and even break quorum.

Republicans hold 25 out of 38 congressional seats, or 65% of the delegation. Trump only won 56% of the vote in the 2024 election, while former Vice President Kamala Harris won 42%. The state's delegation is 65.8% white, while Texas’ population is less than 40% white.

The prospect of Eric Flores’ candidacy has excited Republicans in Texas and Washington, due in part to his military and law enforcement credentials.

The Texas Republican Party rejected the results of the 2020 election, labeled being gay as “abnormal” and vowed to protect access to guns in its platform and corresponding resolutions.

Eric Flores enters race for Texas' 34th Congressional District, a battleground that President Donald Trump won by five points, challenging Democratic incumbent Vicente Gonzalez.

The agenda includes 18 legislative priorities determined by Gov. Greg Abbott, including addressing the Central Texas floods, regulating THC and redistricting.