Word that Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-Mercedes) will likely step down late this spring to either assume the presidency of UT Pan American or to serve as Ambassador to Mexico has brought more likely candidates to replace him out of the woodwork this week.
Armando “Mando” Martinez, (D-Weslaco). Martinez has emerged as an early front runner. A firefighter and paramedic for the city of Weslaco, Martinez was first elected to the Texas House in 2004 and took office in 2005. He is the nephew of the late State Rep. Renato Cuellar. To his disadvantage is that he comes from Waslaco, which isn’t the district’s major population center.
Laura Hinojosa (D-McAllen). While she has the benefit of having ran and won a countywide race, she’s only been in office for two years (before that she was a teacher) at the county level. Too, she works in a position that typically isn’t high on the name recognition ladder. (that of District Clerk). To her advantage, she is the daughter of the sitting Congressman. However, in a hotly contested Democratic primary, she cold find that name recognition won’t help you win without a runoff.
Aaron Pena, Jr., (D-Edinburg). This race would be an interesting choice for Pena. He has the advantage of coming from Edinburg–one of the district’s major population centers–which, combined with his appeal to moderates could help him rise to the top of a field with a lot of Democratic candidates. One disadvantage is that he was a “Craddick D.” While that will matter little to a many people in Valley (especially in Pena’s district), it will matter to others, including financial backers from Central Texas. Plus, it could cost him some important Democratic votes that could go to other candidates.
J. D. Salinas (D-McAllen). Salinas is a political fixture and has his own machine in Hidalgo County. While he was only elected County Judge in 2006, he’s served in public office since he was first elected County Clerk in 1998 at age 29. He, too, has negatives. In addition to being injured by people being upset on his positions related to the border wall, any candidacy he may mount can’t be benefiting from persistent rumors alleging he is going to switch parties to run as a Republican in the special election.
Gus Garcia. Again, Garcia has only held office since 2006, when he defeated Eddie Cisneros Johnson for a seat on the Edinburg City Commission. He reportedly has a fair number of folks who dislike him for one reason or another.
Another possible name these people forgot to include is Joe Ochoa. Look for Ochoa to start making the rounds. If Ochoa were to run for Congress, I don't see him losing. I know Aaron shakes in his shoes when the name Ochoa gets mentioned.
I don't see how Gus Garcia or Aaron Pena could possibly win. Aaron is way to burned within the city of edinburg. His legacy will include being a Craddick D, and screwing Hillary Clinton over. Not to mention all the lies he puts out. And who really knows Gus Garcia? I know him, and I would not vote for him.
