When Rep. Beto O’Rourke decided to run for Senate, he not only gave Democrats a credible candidate against Sen. Ted Cruz, he also left open a dark blue House seat and provided an opportunity for a talented Democrat to bring new leadership to the U.S. House of Representatives.
A number of candidates have stepped forward to vie for the Democratic nomination in Texas’ 16th Congressional District, which is based in El Paso and voted for Hillary Clinton by a wide 67-27 margin, but one candidate’s personal and professional background makes her a truly standout contender in the March primary: Veronica Escobar. Daily Kos is excited to endorse her in this race.
Escobar, a third-generation El Pasoan, directed a local nonprofit before beginning her career as a public servant, serving first as a county commissioner and later as El Paso County judge (a position similar to county executive). From that perch, Escobar fought to increase transparency and accountability in county government, and she was instrumental in expanding local access to affordable health care.
Escobar is also a recognized expert on—and tenacious fighter for—immigrants’ rights and issues related to the U.S.-Mexico border, including trade. Escobar touts El Paso as an example of the values America was founded on. She is a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform and knows that meaningful change not only makes our country safer, but also makes us more competitive. Last year, Escobar led judges and mayors across Texas as they denounced the state attorney general’s efforts to rescind DACA, and she took on the state’s new “anti-sanctuary cities” law that would have forced local police to enforce federal immigration law.
A staunch progressive, Escobar is an advocate for a broad array of Democratic priorities. During her time as an elected official, she successfully fought to build El Paso’s first children’s hospital and extended health care benefits to the domestic partners of LGBTQ county employees. She worked to raise the local minimum wage and has been a fierce advocate on women’s issues, including fighting state cuts to women’s healthcare. In Congress, Escobar will push progressive priorities like access to childcare, paid leave, and equal pay for women.
Escobar is also in a position to make some long-overdue history: She would be the first Latina ever to represent Texas in Congress.
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