What Does a Republican Victory in South Texas Mean for Hispanic Voters in 2022?

Political media speculated on the partisan leanings of Hispanic voters after a Latina Republican won a House seat in South Texas’ deep-blue Rio Grande Valley region.

Mayra Flores, who will become the first Mexican-born congresswoman, defeated Democrat Dan Sanchez and two other candidates in Tuesday’s special election with 50.1% of the vote. She will serve until January to finish the term of former Democratic Rep. Filemon Vela, who resigned in March to join a lobbying firm. Flores will also defend the seat against Democrat Vicente Gonzalez Jr. in the 2022 midterm elections. 

“The Democrat Party has been in control here in South Texas for over 100 years and feel entitled to our vote,” Flores told Fox News (Right bias) on Wednesday, adding, “we sent a strong message to Democrat Party that you have to get to work. If not, you’re going to get voted out.”

Coverage across the spectrum speculated on what Flores’ victory meant for Hispanic voters nationwide. Coverage from the right often portrayed the election as spelling “doom” for Democrats in November; coverage from the left was often more mixed, although some headlines said Democrats were venting their “fury.” Update 6/16/22 7:41 p.m. ET: Previous version said Flores was the first Mexican-born member of Congress; there have been Mexican-born congressmen, such as Rep. Chuy García (D-Ill.)