Veronica Escobar

Veronica Escobar is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 16th congressional district, encompassing her hometown of El Paso. A third-generation El Pasoan, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1991 and a Master of Arts in English Literature from New York University in 1993. Before entering federal office, Escobar worked as an English teacher at the university level, served as the communications director for El Paso Mayor Raymond Caballero, and was the executive director of Community Scholars, a non-profit organization. Her career in local government includes serving as an El Paso County Commissioner from 2007 to 2011 and as the El Paso County Judge from 2011 to 2017. Escobar was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018 and took office on January 3, 2019. She made history as the first woman to represent El Paso in Congress and was one of the first two Latinas from Texas ever elected to the House. In Congress, she has held leadership roles including serving as a co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC). She has served on several high-profile committees, including the House Appropriations, Judiciary, and Armed Services committees. She is also an active member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Escobar is a proponent of universal healthcare and has publicly stated that healthcare is a human right, supporting 'Medicare for All' legislation. She has championed the Inflation Reduction Act for its provisions to cap insulin and out-of-pocket costs for seniors. On immigration, she is a leading voice for comprehensive reform, co-authoring the bipartisan 'Dignity Act' which proposes a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants, protections for 'Dreamers,' and modernized border management. Regarding the economy, she supports raising the federal minimum wage and expanding the Child Tax Credit, advocating for tax policies that favor working families over large corporations. She also supports reproductive rights, environmental protections through clean energy incentives, and stronger gun safety laws.