Trump flipped a trio of South Texas counties in Vela’s district that went for Hillary Clinton in 2016, including Jim Wells County, a longtime Democratic stronghold where Trump won nearly 55 percent of the vote. In a January interview with Hearst Newspapers, Vela pointed to parts of his own district, which stretches from Brownsville to just south of Luling, as evidence of the problem at hand for Democrats in that region. Vela won re-election for his fifth term by more than 13 percentage points in November - a wide margin that was nonetheless the closest contest with a Republican contender he had faced. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox “Expect more Democrats to follow Kirkpatrick and Vela into an early retirement rather than face defeat in 2022.” “House Democrats are on the run because they know their worsening border crisis and socialist policy agenda will cost them their majority,” said Calvin Moore, a spokesman for the Congressional Leadership Fund, the GOP’s House campaign arm. Republicans were celebrating the announcement on Monday as Vela became the second House Democrat this month to say he or she won’t seek re-election, following U.S. In a statement announcing his retirement, Vela said: “I will continue to focus on maintaining a Democratic House and Senate Majority in my capacity as a member of Congress and Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, while working diligently for the people I am so grateful to represent.” Filemón Vela of South Texas sounds warning as he steps into Democratic leadership role Vela said then that he wanted to be “the voice of caution, reason and taking the middle ground” as the party seeks to hold power through the 2022 midterms and beyond. Vela, who is vice chair of the Democratic National Committee through 2025, said earlier this year that Democrats have a lot of work to do in Texas - especially in areas of South Texas, including his own district, where he says the party’s messaging on energy and guns cost its candidates support in November. Cruz changed his tone once Trump turned on him, questioning his eligibility for the presidency, attack the appearance of Cruz's wife, and pushing a National Enquirer story alleging that Cruz had affairs with multiple women.Vela’s retirement comes as Republicans target his and other South Texas districts after GOP candidates and former President Donald Trump had a stronger than expected showing there in November. Cruz offered a "no comment" to CBS News when asked about Trump's attacks on Curiel.Ĭruz set himself up as a staunch ally of Trump during the majority of his presidential run, even calling him "terrific" in December. One former Trump presidential rival that is not criticizing him: Texas Sen. The endorsement took many of his backers by surprise. Recently, Rubio had taken his own share of blowback for saying that he would accept a convention speech slot to speak on behalf of Trump. I don't think it reflects well on us as a nation" "I don't think it reflects well on the Republican Party. "I think it's wrong," Rubio told WFTV in Orlando. Harlingen, Texas and also on Thursday, Jfrom 1-4 pm at Trinity Funeral Home and again from 5-7 pm at Queen of Peace Catholic Church prior to the Rosary at 7 pm. Jeff Flake, Speaker Paul Ryan and even one of Trump's biggest boosters, former Speaker Newt Gingrich, all lambasted Trump for his comments. Visitation is on Wednesday, Jfrom 1-9 pm at Trinity Funeral Home, 1002 East Harrison Ave. In the last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Tennessee Sen. In an interview with Fox and Friends on Monday, Trump vigorously defended himself from claims that his attacks were a mistake.īut there is a growing chorus of criticism. Kennedy in 1961."įor his part, Trump is not showing any signs of rescinding his criticism of Curiel. Garza, was also from Brownsville, Texas, and was appointed by President John F. In fact, the first Hispanic American ever named to the federal bench in the United States, Judge Reynaldo G. "Judge Curiel is one of 124 Americans of Hispanic descent who have served this country with honor and distinction as federal district judges. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel, by calling him a 'Mexican simply because he ruled against you in a case in which you are being accused of fraud, among other accusations," Vela wrote. "You have now descended to a new low in your racist attack of an American jurist, U.S. Trump has said Curiel's Mexican heritage should bar him from overseeing the case since Trump wants to build a wall to keep undocumented immigrants out. And in what has become a mostly bipartisan effort, Vela chastised Trump for his comments on Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is presiding over one of the Trump University fraud cases.
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