The general election for Texas House District 37 concluded on Tuesday night, marking a pivotal moment in this highly competitive race. Incumbent state Rep. Janie Lopez emerged victorious against Brownsville attorney Jonathan Gracia, securing her seat for another term.
At the time this article was published, Lopez had received 30,542( 55%) against Gracia who received 24,966 votes (45%).
In the primary election, none of the candidates secured more than 50% of the vote, which led to a runoff between Gracia and Ruben Cortez. Gracia won that race, setting up a showdown with Lopez in the general election. However, despite Gracia’s grassroots campaign, Lopez’s experience and financial backing allowed her to maintain control of the district.
Lopez has a record of supporting conservative policies, including her votes for the “Show Me Your Papers” bill, a $1.5 billion taxpayer-funded border wall, and a controversial 10-year minimum sentence for harboring undocumented immigrants. Her re-election signals a continued focus on Republican priorities in the Rio Grande Valley, a region historically dominated by Democrats but recently experiencing a political shift.
During her campaign, Lopez focused on border security, reducing government regulations, and making Texas a sanctuary for oil and gas companies. She had support from PACs like Texans for Lawsuit Reform and Texas Sands PAC, as well as key endorsements from Republicans.
The victory underscores Lopez’s ability to overcome her narrow 2022 win, where she secured her seat by just three points, with 29% voter turnout.
