Monica De La Cruz (15)

Monica De La Cruz is a Republican U.S. Representative for Texas's 15th Congressional District, serving since January 3, 2023. She is the first Hispanic Republican woman, first Latina, and first Republican to represent this district, which she won as the eighth person to hold the seat since its creation in 1903. Born on November 11, 1974, and raised in Brownsville, Texas, she previously owned and operated an insurance agency. Notable achievements include passing key legislation in her first term, such as a bill targeting fentanyl trafficking—the first from her community signed into law in nearly 20 years. She advocates for border security, seniors' benefits, and South Texas agriculture, creating the South Texas Water Working Group and pressing Mexico on its water debt. Her efforts have earned endorsements from the National Border Patrol Council, law enforcement, and Texas Farm Bureau, with local media hailing her as a "freshman success."

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
• Political Experience: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 for Texas's 15th District; no prior elected office, but built a career as a business owner before entering Congress.