EDINBURG, Texas – Former Democratic candidate for Texas’ 15th Congressional District, Dr. Eliza Alvarado, has officially endorsed Michelle Vallejo in the runoff.
“I wholeheartedly endorse Michelle, she has the passion, commitment, and empathy needed to advocate for the constituents of District 15”, Alvarado said.
“Michelle will make history as the first woman to represent our district and in doing so she will change the landscape of this region.“
Alvarado secured 15.54 percent of the vote in the recent primary, coming in fourth out of six candidates. Vallejo came in second with 20.13 percent of the vote.
Vallejo said she was thrilled to receive the endorsement.
“Dr. Eliza Alvarado brings years of policy and congressional experience to South Texas,” Vallejo said. “I am so proud to have earned her endorsement, support, and partnership.”
Dr. Alvarado is a Pharr, Texas native with a PhD from the University of Texas at Dallas in Public Affairs. From 2014-2017, Dr. Alvarado served as Director of Government Relations, Grants, and Programs for Doctors Hospital at Renaissance. During her time there, the hospital was awarded the largest Texas Workforce Consortium grant in the history of the state – $2.7 Million. She currently works at Region One and is the Director of Partnerships and Career Pathways. Dr. Alvarado received 5,378 votes in the primary and the endorsement of former Texas 15 Congressman Rubén Hinojosa.
Escobar and Garcia endorsements
Vallejo, a small business owner and community leader, recently announced two key endorsements from the U.S. Congress.
Texas Congresswomen Sylvia Garcia of Houston and Veronica Escobar of El Paso said they are backing Vallejo.
“I was born in Michelle’s district.” Garcia said. “My family still has our farm in Michelle’s district. Michelle Vallejo will do an excellent job representing our values in Washington and will fight for everyone to have a shot at the American Dream that includes quality education, access to healthcare and good jobs to provide for our families.”
“We need strong leaders for our frontera who understand our potential and will seize the opportunities ahead.” Escobar said. “I am proud to endorse Michelle Vallejo because she comes from this community and will be a fierce fighter for South Texas in Congress.”
“It’s an honor to have the confidence of these two extraordinary Texas congresswomen,” Vallejo said. “Together, we are building a movement that will reclaim the power of Latino voters in South Texas. ¡Vamos Por Quince!”
Other endorsements of Vallejo include the United Farmworkers union, LUPE Votes, Hidalgo County Tejano Democrats, former state Sen. Wendy Davis, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and the Working Families Party.
More endorsements are expected in the coming days.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) declared TX-15 as a top priority to keeping the Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Runoff Election Day is on May 24. For more information on the Vallejo campaign go to michellefortx15.com or on social media at @MichelleVforTX.
Official Bio:
Michelle Vallejo is a small business owner who runs Pulga Los Portales, a neighborhood market that serves thousands weekly and helps launch countless businesses of entrepreneurs across the Rio Grande Valley. She’s launched the National Leaders Council Frontera chapter, an organization that unites progressives across business sectors to fight for true equity in South Texas. She’s also launched Hustle & Socialize, an annual conference for women entrepreneurs to network and share resources in South Texas. Her efforts have also included being an immigrants’ rights advocate. In 2020, she served as an oral historian to transcribe interviews of families separated at the border under Trump’s inhuman “zero tolerance” policy. Her transcriptions were used as part of the Biden White House’s task force on reuniting separated families. Through her work as a community leader, small business owner, and immigrants’ rights advocate, she has seen many people work long hours and still not make a living wage, go across the border to Mexico in search of affordable healthcare, and sky-high tuition make higher education inaccessible to South Texans. Michelle Vallejo is endorsed by LUPEVotes, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Wendy Davis, the United farmworkers, the Working Families Party, Hidalgo County Tejano Democrats, the Voter Protection Project, and many more.
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