Veronica EscobarServing

Veronica Escobar

U.S. HouseDemocrat

TX-16 U.S. House

Age 56·Mexican-American·Co-Chair of Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC)

Why This Race Matters

Veronica Escobar is running against Facing Democratic primary challenger; 6 Republicans competing for GOP nomination.

Escobar is the first woman and one of the first two Latinas from Texas to serve in Congress. As the only Texan in Democratic leadership across both chambers, she holds significant influence on immigration and border policy. TX-16 is rated D+11, making it a safe Democratic seat with no Republican winning since 1964.

Escobar won 2024 with 59.5% of the vote. She has raised $609,496 with $280,829 cash on hand as of December 2025. After the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting that killed 23 people in an attack targeting Latinos, Escobar became a leading voice against hate crimes and domestic terrorism.

Key dates to watch: Primary on March 3, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Third-generation El Pasoan whose family has owned and operated Escobar Dairy farm for over 100 years. Her father, Benjamin, graduated from Texas Western College with an engineering degree and served as El Paso County engineer for 30 years while still working the farm. Her mother, Isabel, grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, just across the border. In 2019, Escobar and Sylvia Garcia made history as the first Latinas from Texas elected to Congress.

Family & Heritage

Born fourth of five children to Benjamin and Isabel Escobar in El Paso's Lower Valley. Her family's dairy farm has operated for over 100 years. Her father delivered milk to her mother's door in 1957, leading to their marriage. Grew up bilingual and bicultural on the U.S.-Mexico border, enjoying trips to Ciudad Juarez just across the Rio Grande.

Political Career

Before Politics

English professor at UTEP and El Paso Community College (taught Chicano literature); Communications Director for El Paso Mayor Raymond Caballero; Executive Director of Community Scholars nonprofit; volunteered with Border Rights Coalition documenting immigration-related abuses

Education

B.A. in English Literature from University of Texas at El Paso (1991); M.A. in English Literature from New York University (1993)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Immigration reform
*Gun violence prevention (introduced Active Shooter Alert Act after El Paso Walmart shooting)
*Healthcare access
*Border security
*Reproductive justice
*Veterans affairs

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