Lulu Flores | |
|---|---|
| Member of the TexasHouseofRepresentatives from the 51st district | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Eddie Rodriguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 27,1955 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Scott Hendler |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Website | Campaign website |
Maria Luisa "Lulu" Flores (born September 27, 1955) is an American politician and attorney who is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives from 51st district. She took office in January 2023.
Born on September 27, 1955, [1] Flores grew up along the U.S.–Mexico border and is the youngest of nine children. Her father was an attorney and among the founding members of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). [2] She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in government in 1977 and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Texas Law School in 1980. [3] After law school, Flores became the chief of staff for Representative Irma Rangel (D–Kingsville), the first Mexican American woman to serve in the Texas House of Representatives. [2] [4]
Flores is an attorney and, with her husband Scott Hendler, [5] is a partner at Hendler Flores Law, PLLC. [2] [1] She served as a delegate for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. [2]
Flores ran in for office in 2022 to represent district 51 of the Texas House of Representatives. She won a crowded Democratic primary, receiving about 60% of the vote. [6] She was endorsed by the editorial board of the Austin American-Statesman . [7] In the general election, Flores received 84.4% of the vote, defeating Republican challenger Robert Reynolds. [3]
Flores was sworn in on January 10, 2023, succeeding Eddie Rodriguez. [8] She has said her biggest legislative priority is reducing property taxes and increasing funding for public education. [9] She is a member of the Texas House of Representatives LGBT Caucus and supports Senator Carol Alvarado's (D–Houston) legislation to give more freedom to physicians to provide abortions based on medical judgment. [4]
Flores is on the following committees: Culture, Recreation and Tourism; Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence. [1]
Flores was uncontested in the Democratic primary and the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lulu Flores (incumbent) | 52,801 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 52,801 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lulu Flores (incumbent) | 8,728 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 8,728 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Maria Luisa "Lulu" Flores | 42,393 | 84.4 | |
| Republican | Robert Reynolds | 7,818 | 15.6 | |
| Total votes | 50,211 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Maria Luisa "Lulu" Flores | 8,074 | 60.3 | |
| Democratic | Cynthia Valadez-Mata | 1,525 | 11.4 | |
| Democratic | Matthew Worthington | 1,408 | 10.5 | |
| Democratic | Claire Campos-O'Neal | 991 | 7.4 | |
| Democratic | Albino Cadenas | 635 | 4.7 | |
| Democratic | Mike Hendrix | 498 | 3.7 | |
| Democratic | Cody Arn | 268 | 2.0 | |
| Total votes | 13,399 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Eddie Rodriguez | 2,400 | 51.3 | |
| Democratic | Maria Luisa "Lulu" Flores | 2,280 | 48.7 | |
| Total votes | 4,680 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Maria Luisa "Lulu" Flores | 2,361 | 38.3 | |
| Democratic | Eddie Rodriguez | 1,445 | 23.4 | |
| Democratic | Marcos De Leon | 1,109 | 18.0 | |
| Democratic | Sam Guzman | 697 | 11.3 | |
| Democratic | Bill Pool | 318 | 5.2 | |
| Democratic | Julia A. Diggs | 238 | 3.9 | |
| Total votes | 6,168 | 100.0 | ||