Democrat · Texas's 34th District · 2026
Vicente Gonzalez
Gonzalez's path to a legal career began with a GED and community college.
Biography
Vicente Gonzalez's path to Congress began with a GED and community college.1 He and his wife, Lorena, a former teacher and school administrator in Edinburg and McAllen, make their home in the Rio Grande Valley.1
After receiving his GED in 1985, he earned an associate degree in banking and finance at Del Mar College in 1990 and a bachelor's in business aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1992.12 He completed law school at Texas Wesleyan University in 1996 and opened his own practice the following year.1
Gonzalez entered Congress in 2017 and now serves on the Financial Services Committee, including work involving capital markets, national security and illicit finance.21 His official record also includes participation in the U.S. Mexico Interparliamentary Group and a leadership role in the Blue Dog Coalition.1
His priorities include affordable health care, protecting Social Security and Medicare, agricultural assistance and maintaining trade relationships with Mexico and Canada.3 He supports both traditional and newer energy sources and federal investment in transportation infrastructure.3 In October, he advocated work visas and federal help securing water supplies, while criticizing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement as excessive.4 Republican Eric Flores, Green candidate Eddie Espinoza and Libertarian Chris Royal are his November opponents for the redrawn 34th District.5
Record and controversies
Advertising payments and blogger's attacks
In July 2022, The Texas Tribune reported that Gonzalez's campaign had paid the McHale Report for advertising while its publisher directed racist and sexist attacks at Gonzalez's then opponent, Mayra Flores.6 Gonzalez said he had not read the blog, had been unaware of the commentary and would stop payments; his campaign manager said the campaign had not paid for the attacks and opposed that language.6 The report does not establish that Gonzalez commissioned those posts.6