Texas rep filemon vela code#

It was not immediately clear how Vela’s seat would be filled until the next Congress, but in one scenario, Gonzelez could resign from his district in south-central Texas to run in a special election, setting up another special election in the 15th District. Filemn Vela announced Monday he will not seek reelection next fall, becoming the second House Democrat to announce their retirement in what could be a. Like all departing House members, Vela will be subject to a one-year ban on lobbying the legislative branch, though he may still provide some level of strategic guidance. Vela also did not respond to a request for comment.Īkin Gump was the second biggest federal lobbying practice in 2021, according to public Lobbying Disclosure Act filings, disclosing $53.4 million from such clients as Amazon, Gila River Indian Community, Oneida Indian Nation, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the U.S. 'We do not have any comment on Congressman Filemon Vela or his plans after retirement while he is still serving in Congress,' said Akin Gump spokeswoman Sarah Richmond in an email. But he would have carried it by 16 points under the new congressional map, according to Inside Elections. Biden carried the district by 4 points, according to a data analysis by Daily Kos Elections. He won his 2020 election by 13 points, down from a 20-point victory in 2018. Vela, 58, is a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee whose wife, Rose Vela, was named by President Joe Biden to serve as director of the Commission on White House Fellowships.įilemon Vela, who is in his fifth term, had been floated as a potential nominee for Biden’s Cabinet. Vela informed the House Ethics Committee in January that he would recuse himself from any matter involving Akin Gump “as a result of my negotiation or agreement regarding future employment or compensation,” according to a document filed with the committee and reported by Forbes. Biography: Congressman Filemon Vela represents the 34th Congressional District of Texas, which is anchored in Cameron. Gonzales rates the 34th District race Solid Democratic. Filemon Vela, who gave up his congressional seat earlier this year, to push the ports legislative. Vicente Gonzalez, who represents the 15th District, is running for the seat. The Port of Corpus Christi Authority hired a lobbying firm that employs former U.S. Vela, who represents Texas’ 34th District along the Mexican border, announced last year that he would not seek reelection. He confirmed the report with the Texas Tribune, according to reporter Abby Livingston. Vela’s plans were first reported in a Tweet Thursday morning by Punchbowl News editor Heather Caygle. Filemon Vela of Texas reportedly plans to resign from Congress in the coming weeks to take a post at the Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld lobbying firm. “We have been working very hard in South Texas for years,” said Flores.Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-15), who currently represents a neighboring district and reportedly will not run in the special election. While still leaning toward Democrats, South Texas has seen a strong shift toward Republicans in recent election cycles and the GOP has ramped up efforts to gain more representation in the region.Īnother advantage that the GOP has over Democrats is that the nominee for the general election, Mayra Flores, has said that she plans to run in the special election, while the Democratic nominee is Rep. Under the boundaries that will be used in a special election, the median vote for Democrats was 54 percent. In 2020, the median vote in support of Democrats under the new boundaries was 60 percent. Under the district boundaries for current members - what would be used in a special election instead of the new congressional map drawn for the 2022 general election - the 34th Congressional District is more favorable toward Republicans. The early election to fill the remainder of Vela’s term through the end of the year presents a unique opportunity for Republicans to gain a new seat ahead of the next Congress. Abbott has renewed on a monthly basis for two years.

Texas rep filemon vela code#

The OAG affirmed that, “To the extent that the special election procedures established in the Election Code prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey,” the Disaster Act permitted the governor to suspend those provisions.Įvery county in the state is currently under a disaster declaration for COVID-19 that Gov. Greg Abbott inquired the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) if his emergency powers under the Texas Disaster Act allowed him to suspend relevant election laws in light of the Hurricane Harvey disaster declaration affecting the counties of the district. To hold an election distant enough to meet filing requirements but before the other uniform election date in November, Gov.