# Texas's 34th congressional district

Texas's 34th congressional district is a district that was created as a result of the 2010 census. The first candidates ran in the 2012 elections; the winner, Democrat Filemon Vela Jr., was seated for the 113th United States Congress. The district is currently represented by Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen), who was redistricted there from Texas's 15th congressional district.
Texas's 34th congressional district is composed of the area on the Gulf Coast between Brownsville and Corpus Christi, the latter of which being situated in the neighboring 27th congressional district. It extends westward to include the northeastern portion of McAllen and surrounds, with the rest of the McAllen area being in the 15th. In addition to the City of Brownsville, other major towns in the district include Alice, Beeville, Harlingen, Kingsville and San Benito.
The district was one of 13 congressional districts that voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election while simultaneously electing a Democrat in the 2024 House of Representatives elections.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 67% - 32% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 69% - 31% |
| 2014 | Senate | Alameel 59% - 41% |
| 2014 | Governor | Davis 62% - 38% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 66% - 30% |
| 2018 | Senate | O'Rourke 65% - 34% |
| 2018 | Governor | Valdez 57% - 41% |
| 2018 | Lt. Governor | Collier 63% - 35% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Nelson 65% - 33% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 57% - 42% |
| 2020 | Senate | Hegar 56% - 41% |
| 2022 | Governor | O'Rourke 56% - 43% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Collier 53% - 44% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Mercedes Garza 57% - 41% |
| 2022 | Comptroller of Public Accounts | Dudding 53% - 41% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 52% - 47% |
| 2024 | Senate | Allred 52% - 46% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Cameron County (53)
    All 53 communities
Hidalgo County (30)
    Alamo, Donna, Edcouch, Edinburg (part; also 15th), Elsa, Heidelberg, Indian Hills, La Blanca (part; also 15th), Laguna Seca, La Villa, Llano Grande, Lopezville, McAllen (part; also 15th), Mercedes, Midway North, Midway South, Mila Doce, Muniz, Murillo, North Alamo, Olivarez, Pharr (part; also 15th), Progreso, Progreso Lakes, Relampago, San Carlos (part; also 15th), San Juan (part; also 15th), Scissors, Villa Verde, Weslaco
Kenedy County (1)
    Sarita
Kleberg County (4)
    All 4 communities
Willacy County (10)
    All 10 communities

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Term | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District established January 3, 2013 ||||||
| Filemon Vela Jr. (Brownsville) | Democratic | January 3, 2013 – March 31, 2022 | 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th | Elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Resigned. | 2013–2023 Bee, Cameron, DeWitt, Goliad, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy; parts of Gonzales, Hidalgo, and San Patricio |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 31, 2022 – June 21, 2022 | 117th | | 2013–2023 Bee, Cameron, DeWitt, Goliad, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy; parts of Gonzales, Hidalgo, and San Patricio |
| Mayra Flores (McAllen) | Republican | June 21, 2022 – January 3, 2023 | 117th | Elected to finish Vela's term. Lost re-election. | 2013–2023 Bee, Cameron, DeWitt, Goliad, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy; parts of Gonzales, Hidalgo, and San Patricio |
| Vicente Gonzalez (McAllen) | Democratic | January 3, 2023 – present | 118th 119th | Redistricted from the 15th district and re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy; parts of Hidalgo |

## Recent election results

2012 Texas's 34th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Filemon Vela Jr. | 89,606 | 61.89 | N/A |
| | Republican | Jessica Puente Bradshaw | 52,448 | 36.23 | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Steven Shanklin | 2,724 | 1.88 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 144,778 | 100.00 | |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |
2014 Texas's 34th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Filemon Vela Jr. (incumbent) | 47,503 | 59.47 | –2.42 |
| | Republican | Larry Smith | 30,811 | 38.57 | +2.34 |
| | Libertarian | Ryan Rowley | 1,563 | 1.96 | +0.08 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,877 | 100.00 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
2016 Texas's 34th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Filemon Vela Jr. (incumbent) | 104,638 | 62.67 | +3.20 |
| | Republican | Rey Gonzalez Jr. | 62,323 | 37.33 | –1.24 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 166,961 | 100.00 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
2018 Texas's 34th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Filemon Vela Jr. (incumbent) | 85,825 | 59.99 | –2.68 |
| | Republican | Rey Gonzalez Jr. | 57,243 | 40.01 | +2.68 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 143,068 | 100.00 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
2020 Texas's 34th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Filemon Vela Jr. (incumbent) | 111,439 | 55.44 | –4.55 |
| | Republican | Rey Gonzalez Jr. | 84,119 | 41.85 | +1.84 |
| | Libertarian | Anthony Cristo | 3,222 | 1.60 | N/A |
| | Independent | Chris Royal | 2,235 | 1.12 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 201,027 | 100.00 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
2022 Texas's 34th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mayra Flores | 14,799 | 50.91 |
| | Democratic | Dan Sanchez | 12,606 | 43.37 |
| | Democratic | Rene Coronado | 1,210 | 4.16 |
| | Republican | Juana Cantu-Cabrera | 454 | 1.56 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,069 | 100.00 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
2022 Texas's 34th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Vicente Gonzalez (incumbent) | 70,896 | 52.73 |
| | Republican | Mayra Flores (incumbent) | 59,464 | 44.23 |
| | Independent | Chris Royal | 4,079 | 3.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 134,439 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |
2024 Texas's 34th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Vicente Gonzalez (incumbent) | 102,780 | 51.29 | −1.44 |
| | Republican | Mayra Flores | 97,603 | 48.71 | +4.48 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 200,383 | 100.00 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |