When Michelle Vallejo lost her race for Texas’ 15th Congressional District to Republican Monica De La Cruz by 9 percentage points last year, supporters blamed two things: redistricting that shifted the district red and a lack of national interest in the race as Democrats targeted resources elsewhere.
She decided on a rematch, this time with hopes that national interests who sat last year’s Midterms out might get involved in a 2024 redo.
It’s starting to look like that might be the case.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC has endorsed Vallejo in the race, according to Punchbowl News. The group didn’t weigh in on her race last year, according to endorsement lists available on the group’s website, which named just one Texas congressional candidate — U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher who was seeking re-election in Texas’ 7th Congressional District, a heavily Democratic seat in the Houston area.
Texas’ 15th District, meanwhile, now favors Republicans. The district voted for President Joe Biden in 2020 with a 1.9-percentage-point margin over former President Donald Trump. Under the new map, the district would have favored Trump by a 2.8-point margin. Boundaries were changed to encompass areas further north around San Antonio, which is conservative.
But the winds appear to be changing this election cycle. In addition to the BOLD PAC endorsement, EMILY’s List also recently endorsed Vallejo, Punchbowl News first reported. Additionally, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is planning to invest in Vallejo’s race, according to the Texas Tribune.
Last year, with an unpopular Democratic President occupying the White House, history suggested Democrats could suffer crippling losses in congressional races. That prompted the party and national party interests to focus resources on protecting incumbents and supporting candidates in races seen as more competitive than the redrawn CD 15.
Next year, though, Biden will be back on the ballot and the presidential race will draw heavier turnout. With Trump leading the GOP field for the Republican nomination for President, he could again be on the ballot further driving interest in the election.
De La Cruz’s election last year was the first time a Republican had won the district. That provides motivation to retake the seat next year. But it’s also an important get for both parties as Republicans seek to make gains in historically blue South Texas.
