Progressive Democrat Michelle Vallejo Campaign Enters Final Stretch in Texas’s 15th Congressional District

Progressive Democrat Michelle Vallejo is making a final push in her campaign for Texas’s 15th Congressional District, holding a rally in McAllen, Texas, as early voting approaches. Vallejo, a political newcomer and owner of a local flea market, is facing off against Republican opponent Monica De La Cruz in what is considered the state’s most competitive district.

Despite criticism from some locals for not focusing enough on economic issues, Vallejo has run ads highlighting her opponent’s support for millionaire tax cuts and discussing the struggle to pay for gas and groceries. However, Vallejo has found it challenging to distance herself from the national party’s focus on social issues, without the grassroots infrastructure to organize a shifting base of working-class voters.

The campaign has also highlighted the changing landscape of the region, once known for farmworker organizing but now shifting towards community organizing and improving living conditions in unincorporated neighborhoods. Vallejo’s campaign is backed by LUPE Votes, the elections arm of La Unión del Pueblo Entero, a community group founded by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta.

As the election nears, Vallejo is facing a lack of funding compared to her opponent, De La Cruz, who has emphasized crime, inflation, and strengthening the Mexican border wall in her campaign. Despite the challenges, Vallejo remains focused on her community-centered approach, reaching out to voters with cultural images and colors that resonate with the local population.

With national Democrats shifting resources away from Vallejo’s campaign, the final stretch of the race has become even more challenging. Vallejo continues to fight back against outside interests trying to influence the election, emphasizing the importance of standing up and fighting for the people of Texas’s 15th Congressional District.