Pete Gallego

Pete P. Gallego
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 23rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Quico Canseco
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 74th district
In office 1991–2013
Personal details
Born	(1961-12-02) December 2, 1961 Alpine, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Maria Elena Ramon
Residence	Alpine, Texas
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	Representative Pete Gallego

Pete P. Gallego (born December 2, 1961) is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district since 2013. Gallego, a member of the Democratic Party, previously served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 74th District, based about his native Alpine, Texas, beginning in 1991.

Gallego defeated freshman incumbent Quico Canseco of San Antonio for Texas's 23rd congressional district seat in the November 6, 2012, general election. Canseco conceded the race on November 9.

State legislature

Texas House District 74 includes Brewster, Culberson, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Ward counties. This is the largest House district in Texas in area and the largest U.S.-Mexico border district in the nation. It stretches nearly 39,000 square miles (100,000 km²) and encompasses more than half of the Texas-Mexico border.

Elected in 1990, Gallego is the first Hispanic to represent this vast border district. In 1991, he became the first freshman member and the first ethnic minority member ever elected as chair of the House Democratic Caucus, a post he held until January 2001.

In the Texas House, Gallego serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO)

In January 2001, Gallego was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC), a group of 43 House members who are of Mexican-American descent or who serve a significant Mexican-American constituency. Representative Gallego was re-elected as Chairman of MALC for the fourth time in December 2006.

Gallego's career has included chairmanships of the General Investigating Committee and several select and subcommittees. He has also served as a member of the Sunset Commission and the Committees on Appropriations, Calendars, Criminal Jurisprudence, Higher Education, and Elections.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2012

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2010#District 23

Gallego announced his candidacy for the 23rd District in September 2011. His state house district was virtually coextensive with the central portion of the congressional district.

He finished second in the Democratic primary, behind former congressman Ciro Rodriguez. He then defeated Rodriguez in the July 31 runoff election by a margin of 55-45 percent.

In the general election, Gallego defeated Canseco with 50 percent of the vote to Canseco's 46 percent--a margin of 9,200 votes. While Gallego lost in Bexar County, home to more than half the district's population, he dominated his former state house district.

He was supported by the Blue Dog Coalition.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
  • Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit
• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
  • Subcommittee on Readiness

Political positions

Gay rights

Gallego opposes gay marriage, stating, “I have never been in favor of gay marriage and I am not in favor of gay marriage." However, Gallego does support civil unions for gay couples.

Abortion

Gallego supported an abortion law allowing minors to get an abortion with parental consent. Under the legislation a minor would have been able to bypass the requirement for parental consent by petitioning a judge.

Medicare

Gallego opposes a voucher system and supports prescription drug negotiations.

Immigration

Gallego supports increased border security. Gallego supports a path to citizenship and supports the DREAM act. He voted for the Texas DREAM Act.

Energy

Gallego supports domestic fossil fuel development and long-term investment in renewable energy sources.

Education

Born in Alpine, Gallego graduated from Sul Ross State University in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 1985, he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. He is a member of the Sul Ross State University Hall of Fame and has been named a Distinguished Alumnus by the SRSU Ex-Student Association.

See also

• Hispanics in the United States
• Mexican-Americans

External links

• Representative Pete Gallego official U.S. House website
• Texas House of Representatives - Pete Gallego official TX House website
• Pete Gallego for U.S. Congress official campaign website
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Financial information (state office) at the National Institute for Money in State Politics
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Voting record at The Washington Post
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Profile at Ballotpedia
• Mexican American Legislative Caucus
• National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO)

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Quico Canseco	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 23rd congressional district January 3, 2013 – present	Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Tulsi Gabbard D-Hawaii	United States Representatives by seniority 386th	Succeeded by Joe Garcia D-Florida