Can GOP’s Eric Flores Unseat Democrat Vicente Gonzalez in Texas’ 34th District?

Texas’ 34th Congressional District is gearing up to be a highly contested race in the upcoming November election. 

The district covers parts of South Texas and the Gulf Coast, including Brownsville and Harlingen. 

The current representative for the district is Democrat Vicente Gonzalez, who has represented voters since 2023. He is facing Republican Eric Flores, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas. 

Gonzalez is described as a moderate or conservative Democrat who votes in a fiscally conservative manner; however, his voting record shows that he opposes some Republican initiatives. 

During this congressional session, Gonzalez voted against the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” legislation President Donald Trump supported, that would help create a thriving economy, protect America’s borders, and end wasteful spending.

He also voted against the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require legal documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and require individuals to present eligible photo identification to cast their vote. 

Gonzalez also voted in favor of the extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants, a designation that the Trump administration has sought to end since June 2025. 

During the previous congressional session, Gonzalez voted against the Equal Representation Act, legislation that requires the Census Bureau to include a citizenship question on all future decennial censuses and subsequently prohibits all noncitizens from being counted toward congressional district and Electoral College apportionment. 

He also voted against the Secure the Border Act in 2023, which aimed to end the abuse of the asylum system and parole laws, mandated completion of the border wall, provided physical and personnel resources to secure the border, and strengthened immigration enforcement mechanisms. 

Jorge Martinez, Texas adviser for LIBRE Action, told the Daily Signal that the “contrast in this race is clear.” 

“Hispanic families in the Valley are telling us they want lower costs, safer streets, and an economy that helps us achieve our American dreams—and Vicente Gonzalez has spent his time in Washington backing an agenda that has made all three harder,” he said.

“In nearly 10 years in office, he hasn’t passed a single piece of legislation that has made life better for South Texans. Valley families are tired of the inaction and ready for representatives who will start improving their lives the moment they walk into Congress. Eric Flores has spent his career delivering on those priorities in South Texas, and he’ll bring that same record of results to Washington,” Martinez continued.

Gonzalez did not respond to a request for comment by time of publication. 

Gonzalez’s Republican challenger, Flores, a former Texas Army National Guard Infantry captain and former assistant U.S. attorney, says that South Texans need a representative who will show up for them in Congress. 

“South Texas needs a fighter, not a no-show congressman,” Flores said in a May press release. “While Vicente Gonzalez misses votes in Washington, South Texas continues falling behind on infrastructure, economic growth, and good-paying jobs. Families in TX-34 deserve a congressman who shows up, fights for our communities, and delivers real results instead of excuses.” 

Flores says his priorities include border security, support for law enforcement, and U.S. energy independence. He has been endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council, Americans for Prosperity, and Trump. 

While serving as an assistant U.S. attorney, Flores says he led landmark prosecutions of cartel-connected and human trafficking operations, as well as secured the conviction of one of Texas’ “Top 10” most-wanted fugitives. 

Martinez told the Daily Signal that Flores understands what Texas families want. 

“As we talk to Hispanic families in the Valley, the recurring theme we hear from them is affordability—grocery costs, energy bills, and the pressure on small businesses trying to grow—and those concerns are exactly why so many voters are staying engaged heading into November,” he said. 

“What we’re hearing on the ground in TX-34 is that Hispanic families want representation focused on their real priorities: economic mobility, safer communities, and policies that let small businesses thrive,” Martinez continued. “Eric has spent his career in public service standing up for those priorities, from prosecuting cartel-connected operations to advocating for the veterans and working families of South Texas.” 

Because Trump carried the district by about 8 points in the 2024 presidential election, the district has started to lean more Republican.  

Current polling data shows that Gonzalez holds a small advantage, with Gonzalez polling at 43.9% on average and Flores polling at 41.5% on average. 

Flores did not respond to request for comment.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.   

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