Three races in South Texas could help determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives

three races along the southern border of Texas can help shape the balance in the United States House of Representatives.

Republicans currently hold a 220-212 lead over Democrats in the House of Representatives. Three seats remain vacant following the resignation of Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) and the deaths of Rep. Sheila Jackson (D-Texas) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (DN.J.).

All 435 seats in the House will be drawn on Tuesday.

US District 15 House

Texas’ 15th congressional district covers Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, Karns, Live Oak and Wilson counties.

Republican Monica De La Cruz finds herself up against a familiar opponent in Michelle Vallejo. De Le Cruz defeated Vallejo by nine points in 2022.

De La Cruz ran for the district for the first time in 2020, losing to incumbent District 34 Representative Vincente Gonzalez Jr.

Gonzalez was moved to the 34th District during the redistricting.

De La Cruz became the first Republican to win the seat since the district was created, and Republicans appear intent on keeping it.

The latest financial reports show De La Cruz has raised $7.1 million this campaign cycle. More than triple Vallejo’s $2.1 million.

Still, Democrats believe they can win the district. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee declared Vallejo a “red to blue” candidate. The program adds additional party support to candidates they believe can win a Republican-held seat.

De La Cruz campaign site lists border security, “an economy that works for all Americans” and improving access to health care for South Texans as priorities.

Vallejo campaign site lists affordable health care, Social Security and Medicare expansion, the economy, and protecting women’s reproductive rights as his priorities.

US District 28 House

Texas’ 28th congressional district covers Atascosa, Duval, Jim Hogg, McMullen, Starr, Webb and Zapata counties, as well as parts of Bexar and Guadalupe counties.

Henry Cuellar has represented District 28 since 2004. In 2022, the congressman won re-election with a margin of 13 points.

Cuellar has long been considered safe in his district. However, he was charged administration of justice in May, he and his wife were accused of taking bribes from an oil and gas company owned by the Azerbaijani government and a bank in Mexico.

Officials accused Cuellar of accepting approximately $600,000 in bribes in exchange for using his office to influence favorable political decisions.

Cuellar’s opponent is Republican Jay Furman, who is running on border security and Second Amendment rights. campaign site.

Furman trails Cuellar in fundraising, collecting $570,000 in contributions compared to Cuellar’s $2.3 million.

US District 34 House

District 34 covers Cameron, Kennedy, Kleberg and Willacy counties, as well as part of Hidalgo County.

District 34 is another rematch of the 2022 race, with Vincente Gonzalez defending his seat against Mayra Flores.

Flores won a special election to represent the district in July 2022, while Gonzalez represented District 15. Gonzalez was redrawn to District 34 and won the seat over Flores in the 2022 general election.

Both candidates advocated for broader security improvements. Gonzalez campaign site says he favors increased funding for law enforcement and emergency services, as well as a strong military.

Flores has used her experience as an immigrant to strengthen border enforcement and calls for increased investment in border patrol.

The National Republican Congressional Committee named Flores one of its “young guns.”

During this election cycle, Flores bested Gonzalez, raising $6.3 million. Gonzalez’s campaign brought in $2.8 million.

Early voting is currently underway in Texas, which runs through Friday.

Election Day in the USA is Tuesday.