The congressman from the 15th District is Rubén Hinojosa, a Democrat first elected in 1996. He is known as a staunch advocate for improving education, housing and rural economic development for Hispanics. Read More

The congressman from the 15th District is Rubén Hinojosa, a Democrat first elected in 1996. He is known as a staunch advocate for improving education, housing and rural economic development for Hispanics.

Hinojosa (Hee-no-HO-sa) grew up in Mercedes, where his family owns H&H Foods, a company that produces Mexican foods and is one of the largest employers in the Valley. After earning his bachelor’s and M.B.A. from the University of Texas, he went into the family business and was active in civic affairs, primarily in education and regional development. He served on the state Board of Education and led an effort to create three regional magnet schools.

After Democratic Rep. Kika de la Garza announced he would not seek re-election in 1996, Hinojosa decided to run. In the Democratic primary, he led Anglo lawyer Jim Selman 34%-33%. Selman questioned Hinojosa’s Democratic credentials and said he profited from government contracts. Hinojosa emphasized his interest in improving educational opportunities and extending highways to the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Hinojosa took some moderate positions, calling for a reduction of the capital gains tax and investment tax credits for those making capital improvements. He won the runoff 52%-48% and easily won the general election.

Hinojosa once had a moderate voting record among House Democrats, especially on economic issues, but in recent years, has moved more in line with his party to back the Obama administration’s major initiatives. He decried proposed GOP budget cuts in February 2011 that he contended would “stunt our economy and our means for creating better education for Americans.” He also introduced a bill that month to provide more money for low-performing high schools to reduce dropout rates. He has sought to protect benefits for legal immigrants, to promote the North American Free Trade Agreement and to demand that Mexico deliver on its agreement for water to South Texas farmers. He has a proclivity for holding out on votes to make last-minute legislative deals. He supported Republican President George W. Bush’s proposal for broader authority to negotiate trade deals after he was promised a job training project for his district.

But Hinojosa has struggled to advance in the House. Despite support in 2003 from the Texas delegation for a spot on the Ways and Means Committee, Hinojosa was passed over in favor of Texas Rep. Max Sandlin, an ally of Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi. In early 2005, Hinojosa made an unsuccessful bid for a leadership post when he ran for vice-chairman of the Democratic Caucus, but he abandoned his candidacy after two weeks due to lack of support. After Democrats won control of the House in 2006, Hinojosa chaired the Higher Education, Life Long Learning and Competitiveness Subcommittee, where he focused on families traditionally left behind in American education. After the GOP victories in 2010, he became that panel’s ranking Democrat. He also became the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ first vice chairman, its No. 2 position.

Hinojosa made headlines in February 2011 when, as a member of the Financial Services Committee, he filed for personal bankruptcy. He blamed the situation on a loan that he guaranteed for his family’s food products company that led him to owe $2.6 million to Wells Fargo Bank. His troubles were compounded by a lackluster first quarter of fundraising in which he brought in less than $8,000. Redistricting in 2012 could affect his future political plans. After a series of easy election victories, Hinojosa had a scare in 2004, largely because of redistricting, but still won 58%-41%. The 2006 court-ordered redistricting returned Hinojosa to firmer footing. It removed four of the six troublesome northern counties Hinojosa lost in 2004.