Mayra Flores fights to reclaim Rio Grande Valley seat in Congress as Trump backs rival

Former Republican congresswoman struggles to raise funds as Trump endorses lawyer Eric Flores in heated primary battle

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Mayra Flores, the former Republican congresswoman who made history in 2022 by becoming the first GOP representative from Texas' Rio Grande Valley in over 150 years, is fighting to reclaim her seat in Congress. However, she faces a tough challenge from rival candidate Eric Flores, a lawyer and political newcomer, who has received a surprise endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

Why it matters

Flores' victory in 2022 proved that Republicans could win over working-class Hispanic communities that had long been Democratic strongholds, foreshadowing Trump's own surge in the region in 2024. The Flores v. Flores competition has become a tense and personal confrontation between two young Hispanic conservatives, with the outcome potentially shaping the future of the Republican Party's hold on this political battleground.

The details

Mayra Flores is struggling to raise money and gain traction, while Trump has endorsed Eric Flores, who is not related to Mayra despite the same last name. The two candidates exemplify the community's rightward shift, with the winner set to be among the most closely watched Republicans in the state, responsible for defeating Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a longtime target. Texas' recent redistricting was designed in part to make Gonzalez easier to defeat.

  • Mayra Flores won a special election in 2022 to become the first Republican in more than 150 years to represent the Rio Grande Valley in Congress.
  • Mayra Flores lost two subsequent races to Gonzalez, but her victory proved that Republicans could win over working-class Hispanic communities.
  • In 2024, Trump won every county in the Rio Grande Valley region.
  • Last fall, Republicans in the Texas Legislature, acting on pressure from Trump, redrew district boundaries in the GOP's favor, aiming to pick up as many as five Democratic House seats statewide.
  • The March 3 primary will be the first elections to be held using the new map.

The players

Mayra Flores

A former Republican congresswoman who made history in 2022 by becoming the first GOP representative from Texas' Rio Grande Valley in over 150 years.

Eric Flores

A lawyer and political newcomer who has received a surprise endorsement from former President Donald Trump in the primary race against Mayra Flores.

Donald Trump

The former president who has endorsed Eric Flores in the primary race, upending the competition between the two young Hispanic conservatives.

Vicente Gonzalez

A Democratic congressman who has long been a top target for Republicans in the Rio Grande Valley region.

Jonathan Campos

A Republican rancher near Brownsville who is running for a seat on the county commission.

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What they’re saying

“Don't let anyone take that from us.”

— Mayra Flores, Former Republican congresswoman (wbal.com)

“I'm going to take that same tenacity that I served in uniform on the border, the same tenancy fighting the cartels and the human smugglers in the federal courtroom – that's what I want to take to D.C.”

— Eric Flores, Lawyer and political newcomer (wbal.com)

“For one, she's strong. I haven't heard Flores talk nasty about opponents.”

— Margaret Cervantes, 69-year-old retiree (wbal.com)

“I've been doing this since 2021 when few believed it was possible for a Republican to win. I ran so men like him could walk.”

— Mayra Flores, Former Republican congresswoman (wbal.com)

What’s next

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit the Rio Grande Valley region on Friday, with a stop in Corpus Christi, as the heated primary battle between Mayra Flores and Eric Flores continues.

The takeaway

The Flores v. Flores competition has become a tense and personal confrontation between two young Hispanic conservatives, with the outcome potentially shaping the future of the Republican Party's hold on this political battleground. The race highlights the shifting political dynamics in the Rio Grande Valley, where working-class Hispanic voters have been moving towards the GOP in recent years.