Monica De La Cruz

Monica De La Cruz
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Vicente Gonzalez (redistricting)
Personal details
Born	(1974-11-11) November 11, 1974 (age 50) Brownsville, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Johnny Hernandez ​ ​ (m. 2015; div. 2021)​
Children	2
Education	University of Texas, San Antonio (BBA)
Website	House website

Monica De La Cruz (born November 11, 1974)^[1] is an American politician and insurance agent from the state of Texas. She has represented Texas's 15th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023.

Early life and career

De La Cruz graduated from James Pace Early College High School in Brownsville, Texas, and the University of Texas at San Antonio, studying marketing.^[2] She later attended the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City, studying Spanish. She interned for Turner Entertainment before working for Cartoon Network Latin America.^[3] Before being elected to the U.S. Congress, she was an insurance agent and business owner.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas § District 15

In 2020, De La Cruz ran in Texas's 15th congressional district, and lost to incumbent Democrat Vicente Gonzalez by three percentage points.^[4]

2022

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas § District 15

Endorsed by Donald Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, De La Cruz ran again in the 15th district in 2022, while Gonzalez was redistricted to Texas's 34th congressional district. De La Cruz defeated Democratic nominee Michelle Vallejo in the general election, earning 80,869 votes to Vallejo's 67,913.^{[5][6][7][8][9]} When she took office in 2023, she became only the eighth person to represent this district since its creation in 1903, and the first Republican. By a matter of a few months, she was the second Republican elected from a Rio Grande Valley county in over a century; the first, Mayra Flores, was elected to a partial term in a neighboring district in 2022. De la Cruz is the first Republican elected to a full term after it was redrawn.^[10]

2024

Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas § District 15

De La Cruz ran for re-election in 2024 and faced Michelle Vallejo in the general election.^[11] De La Cruz was re-elected by 14 points.^[12]

Tenure

In March 2024, De La Cruz delivered the Republican response to President Joe Biden's 2024 State of the Union Address in Spanish.^[13]

In June 2024, Politico reported De La Cruz earmarked $2.4 million in taxpayer funds to Angels of Love Advocacy Project, an organization founded by an associate who was recently^[when?] arrested for allegedly stealing $500,000 from Ponzi scheme victims.^[14]

Caucus memberships

• Republican Main Street Partnership^[15]

Committee assignment

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy^[16]

Political positions

De La Cruz voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.^[17][18]

Personal life

De La Cruz is an Episcopalian.^[19]

De La Cruz has been married and divorced twice and has two children. De La Cruz's split from her second husband in 2021, Juan Gabriel Hernandez, resulted in an acrimonious divorce.^[20][21]

See also

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress

References

1. "Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) Research Report" (PDF). October 2021.
2. "Incoming Rep. Monica De La Cruz - R Texas, 15th, Member-elect - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
3. "Vote Smart | Facts For All". Vote Smart.
4. Taylor, Steve (June 5, 2022). "De La Cruz: I do not care which Democrat I face in CD 15 general election". Rio Grande Guardian.
5. Choi, Matthew (August 24, 2022). "In Texas' most competitive congressional race, neither candidate is running toward the center". The Texas Tribune.
6. Recio, Maria. "Latina candidates reshaping South Texas politics in 3 key congressional races". Austin American-Statesman.
7. Gamboa, Suzanne (October 22, 2022). "South Texas Democrats push back as Latina Republicans close in". www.nbcnews.com.
8. "Texas Republicans hope to send their first Latina to Congress". NBC News. March 9, 2022.
9. Neukam, Matthew Choi and Stephen (November 9, 2022). "Monica De La Cruz becomes first Republican to win in 15th Congressional District in South Texas". The Texas Tribune.
10. "Monica De La Cruz wins Republican primary in more competitive Texas district". Reuters. March 2, 2022.
11. https://myrgv.com/local-news/2024/03/05/second-round-monica-de-la-cruz-michelle-vallejo-set-for-district-15-rematch/
12. Scherer, By Jasper (November 6, 2024). "Monica De La Cruz retains GOP control of South Texas congressional district". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
13. Wermund, Benjamin. "Rep. Monica De La Cruz to deliver GOP's Spanish-language response to State of the Union".
14. Oprysko, Caitlin (June 20, 2024). "Grindr hooks up with K Street". Politico.
15. "Candidates". RMSP PAC. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
16. "Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy". Financial Services Committee. U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
17. Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
18. Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
19. "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023.
20. Scherer, Michael (November 9, 2021). "Top GOP congressional candidate in Texas accused of abusing teenage daughter of estranged husband". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
21. Scherer, Michael (January 12, 2022). "GOP House candidate Monica De La Cruz will be allowed to return to her Texas home in April amid legal fight with her estranged husband". Washington Post. Retrieved April 14, 2023.

External links

• Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz official U.S. House website
• Monica De La Cruz for Congress campaign website
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Vicente Gonzalez	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 15th congressional district 2023–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Don Davis	United States representatives by seniority 364th	Succeeded by Chris Deluzio