Mayra Flores Sworn in as First Mexican-Born Woman in Congress

Flores flipped a long-time blue seat red.

QUICK FACTS:
  • Texas Republican Mayra Flores was sworn into Congress Tuesday making her the first Mexican-born woman to become a member of Congress.
  • Flores is also the first Republican Latina to represent the state of Texas.
  • “My very first day in office and it’s a memorable one for sure. This is what dreams are made of; faith, family, and hardwork,” Flores tweeted Tuesday.
  • Flores is replacing Democratic Representative Filemon Vela Jr. who left his seat in March of this year.
  • The election of the Latina congresswoman is the first time her seat will be filled by a Republican in the last decade.
FLORES STILL RUNNING FOR OFFICE:
  • Flores will keep her seat until the end of the year when the permanent representative will be elected in the mid-term elections.
  • The newly minted congresswoman will be running against Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, who is shifting from the 15th Congressional District.
  • “This win is for the people who were ignored for so long! This is a message that the establishment will no longer be tolerated! We have officially started the red wave!!” Flores’ campaign wrote on Facebook the night of the election.
BACKGROUND:
  • Flores was born in Mexico to migrant farmworkers and eventually immigrated to the United States.
  • Her election marks a historic high for women in Congress bringing the total to 147 women overall, 41 of whom are Republicans.

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