HARLINGEN, Texas – Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda has announced her re-election campaign.
She is the first female and the first Latina to serve in this capacity.
Announcing her re-election campaign, Sepulveda said she pledges to continue building a city government that “listens, takes action, and keeps the people of Harlingen at the center of every decision.”
She said: “I am honored to announce that I am running for re-election as Mayor of Harlingen. When the voters elected me three years ago, I promised to bring City Hall back to the people, to listen and take action, and to prioritize the citizens' voices. Together, we have made real progress, but there is more to do.”
Sepulveda says that over the past three years she has worked to deliver on the biggest concerns voiced by Harlingen residents. A press release from her campaign team listed these concerns and what Sepulveda has done to address them.
Accessibility and Transparency
She has opened government to the people by hosting citywide town halls and listening sessions, and by authoring an ordinance that makes them a permanent part of city policy, requiring every commissioner to hold at least one town hall in their district each year and one citywide town hall with the full commission.
Economic Growth
She created the city’s first Small Business Advisory Committee, launched the Revitalize Harlingen matching grant program, and attracted new businesses and jobs to the community. To date, the program has awarded $177,400 in grant funds, generating a total investment of $696,696 from participating businesses.
Infrastructure and Drainage
Since taking office, she has increased the city’s grant funding by 45 percent, securing $22.5 million for infrastructure improvements with many additional applications pending. Improving drainage and infrastructure is an ongoing priority, and Mayor Sepulveda has led a comprehensive restructure of the city’s drainage plans, increasing the number of drainage workers, tightening development standards, and implementing technology to forecast and respond to major weatherevents. She has worked closely with regional, state, and federal partners to address long-standing infrastructure needs and remains committed to building on this progress.
Public Safety
She renewed the city’s contract with South Texas Emergency Care, continuing a long-standing partnership with an organization that has consistently served the citizens of Harlingen and expanded its community services. She also secured the best collective bargaining agreements in the city’s history for both the police and fire departments, providing stronger pay, improved benefits, and greater support for the city’s first responders.
Community Support
She transformed the State of the City into a fully sponsor-funded event, raising $120,000 for local nonprofits that serve children, families, and those in need.
“I am grateful to those who believed in me from the beginning, and I am equally grateful to those who have allowed me to earn their trust through our work together,” Sepulveda said. “Harlingen’ s future is bright, and I am committed to keeping our city moving forward.”
The election takes place on November 4, 2025.
The campaign will host a kickoff event open to the community on September 4, 2025, with more details to come.
