Monica De La Cruz

Mónica de la Cruz
Born	11 11, 1974
Birthplace	Brownsville, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, insurance agent
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 15th congressional district
Education	University of Texas at San Antonio (BBA)
Children	2
Website	[[delacruz.house.gov delacruz.house.gov] Official site]

Mónica de la Cruz (born November 11, 1974) is an American politician and insurance agent serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 15th congressional district since January 3, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, De la Cruz represents a sprawling South Texas district that stretches across the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding areas. Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, she built a career in the insurance industry before entering politics, first running for Congress in 2020 and winning the seat in the 2022 midterm elections. Her victory made her the first Republican Latina elected to Congress from Texas, a milestone that drew national attention amid broader Republican gains among Hispanic voters in South Texas. In Congress, De la Cruz has focused on issues including immigration, border security, and economic development in the Rio Grande Valley region. She has also pursued legislative initiatives related to financial services and construction workforce policy.

Early Life

Mónica de la Cruz was born on November 11, 1974, in Brownsville, Texas, a city located at the southern tip of Texas along the U.S.–Mexico border. She grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, a predominantly Hispanic region of South Texas with deep cultural and economic ties to neighboring Mexico. De la Cruz's upbringing in Brownsville shaped her understanding of border issues and the challenges facing communities in the region, themes that would later become central to her political career.

Before entering politics, De la Cruz worked as an insurance agent in South Texas, building a career in the private sector. Her professional background in the insurance industry provided her with experience in business operations and client services, which she later cited as informing her approach to economic and regulatory policy.

Education

De la Cruz attended the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public research university and one of the largest institutions in the University of Texas System. Her business education provided the foundation for her subsequent career in the insurance industry and, later, her focus on economic and financial policy in Congress.

Career

Insurance Industry

Prior to entering politics, De la Cruz established herself as an insurance agent in South Texas. She operated in the Rio Grande Valley region, serving clients in the border communities where she had grown up. Her experience in the insurance industry gave her firsthand knowledge of small business operations and the regulatory environment affecting Texas businesses, topics she would later address as a congressional candidate and legislator.

2020 Congressional Campaign

De la Cruz first ran for Congress in 2020, seeking to represent Texas's 15th congressional district. At the time, the district was held by Democratic incumbent Vicente González. Although De la Cruz lost the 2020 race, her performance was notable given that Republicans had been making inroads among Hispanic voters in the Rio Grande Valley. The 2020 election cycle saw significant shifts in voting patterns across South Texas, with several predominantly Hispanic border counties moving toward Republican candidates. De la Cruz's relatively strong showing in the 2020 race positioned her as a leading Republican candidate for the district in future elections.

2022 Congressional Campaign

Following the 2020 redistricting cycle, the boundaries of Texas's 15th congressional district were significantly redrawn by the Republican-controlled Texas legislature. The new map made the district more favorable to Republican candidates, and incumbent Democratic Representative Vicente González chose to run in the neighboring 34th congressional district instead of seeking re-election in the redrawn 15th district.

De la Cruz entered the 2022 Republican primary for the open seat. She expressed confidence about her prospects regardless of which Democratic opponent she would face in the general election. De la Cruz won the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where she faced Democratic nominee Michelle Vallejo.

The race between De la Cruz and Vallejo attracted national attention as one of several competitive South Texas congressional contests in the 2022 cycle. Three Latina candidates were running in competitive South Texas districts that year, reflecting the growing political engagement of Hispanic women in the region. The contest was also closely watched as a barometer of Republican strength among Latino voters in the Rio Grande Valley, following the party's gains in the area during the 2020 presidential election.

NBC News and other national outlets covered the race as part of a broader story about Texas Republicans' efforts to elect the first Republican Latina to Congress from the state. De la Cruz's campaign focused on issues including border security, economic development, and her background as a small business owner in the region. The redrawn district lines gave her a structural advantage, and political analysts assessed the race as favoring the Republican candidate.

On November 8, 2022, De la Cruz won the general election, defeating Vallejo and becoming the first Republican Latina elected to the U.S. Congress from Texas. Her victory was part of a broader pattern of Republican gains among Latino voters in South Texas, which NBC News described as a significant development in Texas politics. De la Cruz was endorsed by the Main Street Republican PAC, which supported moderate Republican candidates.

Tenure in Congress

De la Cruz was sworn into office on January 3, 2023, succeeding Vicente González, who had represented the district before it was redrawn.

Immigration and Border Security

As a representative of a border district, De la Cruz has been active on immigration policy. She has met with South Texas community leaders and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to discuss immigration proposals, including during events hosted as part of her "STX Days" initiative, which brings South Texas constituents to Washington, D.C.

In January 2026, De la Cruz drew attention for her engagement with the construction industry on immigration matters. Following a roundtable discussion with the South Texas Builders Alliance, she promised to explore new pathways for migrants to work legally in the construction industry, which had been facing labor shortages in the region. This position reflected a nuanced approach to immigration that balanced her party's emphasis on border enforcement with attention to the economic needs of her district's industries.

Financial Services Legislation

De la Cruz has pursued legislative work in the area of financial services. Her bill, the "Bringing the Discount Window into the 21st Century Act," passed the House floor in February 2026. The legislation addressed the modernization of the Federal Reserve's discount window lending facility.

Government Funding Votes

De la Cruz has voted on several government funding measures during her time in Congress. In November 2025, she voted in favor of a continuing resolution to end a government shutdown, releasing a statement emphasizing the importance of maintaining government operations and securing funding for South Texas. In February 2026, she again voted to end a shutdown and secure funding for her district.

Constituent Engagement

De la Cruz has organized constituent engagement events, including the "STX Days" initiative. In February 2026, she hosted her second annual South Texas Community Leaders gathering in Washington, D.C., bringing leaders from across the 15th district to meet with congressional leadership and discuss issues relevant to the region.

2026 Election Cycle

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the race for Texas's 15th congressional district has drawn national attention. Democratic candidates have been competing in a primary for the opportunity to challenge De la Cruz, with the contest described as a battle over the direction of the Democratic Party in the Rio Grande Valley — whether to pursue a more progressive or centrist approach. The race has been viewed as a test of whether Democrats can reclaim ground lost to Republicans among Hispanic voters in South Texas.

Personal Life

De la Cruz has two children. She has maintained her residence in South Texas throughout her political career, representing the community where she was raised. In November 2021, The Washington Post reported on allegations of domestic abuse involving De la Cruz's former spouse. The Washington Post also reported on Republican efforts to secure the Texas House seat in January 2022, in an article that discussed De la Cruz's candidacy.

According to the Pew Research Center's analysis of the religious affiliations of members of the 118th United States Congress, De la Cruz's religious affiliation was documented as part of the broader survey of congressional members.

Recognition

De la Cruz's election to Congress in 2022 was recognized as a historic milestone. She became the first Republican Latina to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives, a distinction noted by NBC News and other national outlets. Her victory was viewed as emblematic of the Republican Party's growing appeal among Hispanic voters in South Texas, a region that had long been considered a Democratic stronghold.

The Austin American-Statesman highlighted De la Cruz as one of several Latina candidates running in competitive South Texas districts in 2022, noting the increasing representation of Hispanic women in Texas congressional politics. The Texas Tribune covered her campaigns extensively, providing detailed analysis of both her 2022 race and her ongoing legislative work in Congress.

Her congressional activities, including constituent engagement events and meetings with House leadership, have been documented through her official congressional office. Her legislative work on the Discount Window modernization bill represented a notable floor achievement for a relatively junior member of Congress.