Texas's 34th congressional district

Last updated

Texas's 34th congressional district
Texas US Congressional District 34 (since 2021).tif
Texas's 34th congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Distribution
  • 83.96% urban [1]
  • 16.04% rural
Population (2023)778,323 [2]
Median household
income
$51,228 [2]
Ethnicity
Cook PVI EVEN [3]

Texas's 34th congressional district is a district that was created as a result of the 2010 census. [4] The first candidates ran in the 2012 elections; the winner, Democrat Filemon Vela Jr., was seated for the 113th United States Congress. [5] The district is currently represented by Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen), who was redistricted there from Texas's 15th congressional district. [6]

Contents

Texas's 34th congressional district is composed of the area on the Gulf Coast between Brownsville and Corpus Christi, the latter of which being situated in the neighboring 27th congressional district. [7] It extends westward to include the northeastern portion of McAllen and surrounds, with the rest of the McAllen area being in the 15th. In addition to the City of Brownsville, other major towns in the district include Alice, Beeville, Harlingen, Kingsville and San Benito.

The district was one of 13 congressional districts that voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election while simultaneously electing a Democrat in the 2024 House of Representatives elections. [8]

Recent election results from statewide races

YearOfficeResults [9] [10]
2008 President Obama 67% - 32%
2012 President Obama 69% - 31%
2014 Senate Alameel 59% - 41%
Governor Davis 62% - 38%
2016 President Clinton 66% - 30%
2018 Senate O'Rourke 65% - 34%
Governor Valdez 57% - 41%
Lt. Governor Collier 63% - 35%
Attorney General Nelson 65% - 33%
2020 President Biden 57% - 42%
Senate Hegar 56% - 41%
2022 Governor O'Rourke 56% - 43%
Lt. Governor Collier 53% - 44%
Attorney General Mercedes Garza 57% - 41%
Comptroller of Public Accounts Dudding 53% - 41%
2024 President Trump 52% - 47%
Senate Allred 52% - 46%

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities: [11]

CameronCounty (53)

All 53 communities

HidalgoCounty (30)

Alamo, Donna, Edcouch, Edinburg (part; also 15th), Elsa, Heidelberg, Indian Hills, La Blanca (part; also 15th), Laguna Seca, La Villa, Llano Grande, Lopezville, McAllen (part; also 15th), Mercedes, Midway North, Midway South, Mila Doce, Muniz, Murillo, North Alamo, Olivarez, Pharr (part; also 15th), Progreso, Progreso Lakes, Relampago, San Carlos (part; also 15th), San Juan (part; also 15th), Scissors, Villa Verde, Weslaco

KenedyCounty (1)

Sarita

KlebergCounty (4)

All 4 communities

WillacyCounty (10)

All 10 communities

List of members representing the district

RepresentativePartyTermCong
ress
Electoral historyDistrict location
District established January 3, 2013
Filemon Vela, Official Portrait, 113th Congress.jpg
Filemon Vela Jr.
(Brownsville)
Democratic January 3, 2013 –
March 31, 2022
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
Elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Resigned.
2013–2023
Texas US Congressional District 34 (since 2013).tif
Bee, Cameron, DeWitt, Goliad, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy; parts of Gonzales, Hidalgo, and San Patricio
VacantMarch 31, 2022 –
June 21, 2022
117th
Mayra Flores.jpg
Mayra Flores
(McAllen)
Republican June 21, 2022 –
January 3, 2023
117th Elected to finish Vela's term.
Lost re-election.
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, 118th Congress.jpg
Vicente Gonzalez
(McAllen)
Democratic January 3, 2023 –
present
118th
119th
Redistricted from the 15th district and re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.
2023–present
Texas US Congressional District 34 (since 2021).tif
Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy; parts of Hidalgo [12]

Recent election results

2012 Texas's 34th congressional district election [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Filemon Vela Jr. 89,606 61.89 N/A
Republican Jessica Puente Bradshaw52,44836.23N/A
Libertarian Steven Shanklin2,7241.88N/A
Total votes144,778 100.00
Democratic win (new seat)
2014 Texas's 34th congressional district election [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Filemon Vela Jr. (incumbent) 47,503 59.47 –2.42
Republican Larry Smith30,81138.57+2.34
Libertarian Ryan Rowley1,5631.96+0.08
Total votes79,877 100.00
Democratic hold
2016 Texas's 34th congressional district election [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Filemon Vela Jr. (incumbent) 104,638 62.67 +3.20
Republican Rey Gonzalez Jr.62,32337.33–1.24
Total votes166,961 100.00
Democratic hold
2018 Texas's 34th congressional district election [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Filemon Vela Jr. (incumbent) 85,825 59.99 –2.68
Republican Rey Gonzalez Jr.57,24340.01+2.68
Total votes143,068 100.00
Democratic hold
2020 Texas's 34th congressional district election [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Filemon Vela Jr. (incumbent) 111,439 55.44 –4.55
Republican Rey Gonzalez Jr.84,11941.85+1.84
Libertarian Anthony Cristo3,2221.60N/A
Independent Chris Royal2,2351.12N/A
Total votes201,027 100.00
Democratic hold
2022 Texas's 34th congressional district special election [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mayra Flores 14,799 50.91
Democratic Dan Sanchez12,60643.37
Democratic Rene Coronado1,2104.16
Republican Juana Cantu-Cabrera4541.56
Total votes29,069 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic
2022 Texas's 34th congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Vicente Gonzalez (incumbent) 70,896 52.73
Republican Mayra Flores (incumbent)59,46444.23
Independent Chris Royal4,0793.03
Total votes134,439 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican
2024 Texas's 34th congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Vicente Gonzalez (incumbent) 102,780 51.29 −1.44
Republican Mayra Flores 97,60348.71+4.48
Total votes200,383 100.00
Democratic hold

References

  1. Bureau, US Census. "Geography Program". www.census.gov.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. 1 2 Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  3. "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  4. "Census 2010 shows Red states gaining congressional districts". Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  5. "Mapping the Future: GOP will draw map in Texas". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 30, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  6. "Vicente Gonzalez holds back Republican surge, returns 34th Congressional District to Democratic control". The Texas Tribune. November 9, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  7. "DistrictViewer". dvr.capitol.texas.gov.
  8. Bowman, Bridget (December 14, 2024). "Trump's victory sets up fight for the House on his turf in 2026". NBC News . Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  9. "DRA 2020". davesredistricting.org. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  10. Kondik, Kyle (January 16, 2025). "The 2024 Crossover House Seats: Overall Number Remains Low with Few Harris-District Republicans" . Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  11. https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST48/CD118_TX34.pdf
  12. "District Population Analysis with County Subtotals | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS - PLANC2193" (PDF). Capitol Data Portal. Texas Legislative Council. October 17, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Texas Office of the Secretary of State "2012 General Election"
  14. "Texas Statewide Results General Election - November 4, 2014 Official Results". Texas Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  15. "2016 General Election, 11/8/2016". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Texas Election Results - Official Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved June 15, 2022.

25°55′49″N97°29′04″W / 25.9303°N 97.4844°W / 25.9303; -97.4844