Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

U.S. Representative, District 34

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

United States
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked4-way race
Eric FloresEric FloresRepublican
Vicente GonzalezVicente GonzalezDemocratic Incumbent
Chris RoyalChris RoyalLibertarian
Eddie EspinozaEddie EspinozaGreen
On ballot as
Eric Flores
Vicente Gonzalez
Chris Royal
Eddie Espinoza
Current role
Attorney; partner at the law firm O'Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo (per campaign)
U.S. Representative, Texas' 34th Congressional District
Not found
Not found
Background
  • Bachelor's degree, University of Texas at Austin
  • Law degree, Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
  • Former Texas Army National Guard infantry captain (per campaign)
  • Operation Guardian Support service on the southern border (per campaign)
  • Rio Grande Valley native from Mission (per Texas Tribune)
  • GED (1985)
  • Associate degree in banking and finance, Del Mar College (1990)
  • Bachelor's degree, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Law degree, what is now Texas A&M University School of Law
  • Founder, Law Office of V. Gonzalez and Associates (1997)
  • Bachelor's degree, Southwest Missouri State University (1982) (per Ballotpedia)
  • Law degree (1990) (per Ballotpedia)
  • U.S. Army veteran (per Ballotpedia)
  • Has worked as a teacher, lawyer, computer programmer and author of a real estate textbook (per Ballotpedia)
  • Born in Kokomo, Indiana
  • Has lived in Harlingen since 1993 (per his 2024 Ballotpedia survey)
  • Graduate, Mission High School (per Ballotpedia)
  • Bachelor's degree, University of Texas-Pan American (1994) (per Ballotpedia)
  • U.S. Army (1989–1991)
  • Combat infantry badge, Desert Storm (per his Ballotpedia survey)
  • Former teacher, Rio Grande Valley public schools; 26 years (per his Ballotpedia survey)
  • Born in Dallas (per Ballotpedia)
Experience
  • Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of Texas' criminal division, McAllen (2021 to early 2025) (per Texas Tribune)
  • Former city attorney and municipal judge in Alton (per Texas Tribune)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): won, 56.7% in an eight-candidate field
  • U.S. House, representing South Texas (since 2017) (per Texas Tribune)
  • U.S. Representative, 15th District; three terms before switching to the 34th (per Texas Tribune)
  • Member, House Financial Services Committee (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 62.7%
  • Libertarian Party convention (March 21, 2026): advanced
  • Ran for Texas Railroad Commissioner (2024); lost the general election (per Ballotpedia)
  • Green Party convention (March 21, 2026): advanced
Top priorities
  • Cost of living: "I'll oppose reckless federal spending that fuels inflation"
  • Infrastructure: "I'll fight to secure federal funding for road, bridge, and port improvements"
  • Water: "I'll fight for federal investment in our water infrastructure"
  • Veterans: "I'll fight to reduce VA wait times and expand access to care throughout our communities"
  • Seniors' benefits: "I'll oppose any effort to cut those earned benefits"
  • Small business: "I'll fight for tax relief and reduced regulatory burdens for small business owners"
  • Affordability: "supporting policies that promote economic stability, protect working families"
  • Seniors: "safeguarding programs that provide financial security and access to healthcare"
  • Health care: "No family should have to choose between getting medical care and meeting basic needs."
  • Veterans: "working to prevent the deportation of honorably discharged veterans and expand healthcare options closer to home"
  • Jobs: supports efforts that "encourage job creation, strengthen small businesses, and invest in industries that bring sustainable growth to the region"
Not found
  • "We need a Constitutional Amendment to end Citizens United and rein in PACs, dark money, and billionaires."
  • "we must transition to 100% clean renewable energy ASAP"
  • Says new LNG export terminals and a new refinery "at the Port of Brownsville must be canceled"
  • "We need Medicare for All!"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Immigration: In a July 2025 Texas Tribune interview, said he wants local employers to "have the workers that they need, having an efficient legal process for that"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Health care: Campaign site, on seniors: will "support expanding access to affordable prescription drugs"; on veterans: "reduce VA wait times and expand access to care"
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
  • Abortion: Campaign site: supports "assuring every woman retains the right to make her own healthcare decisions"
  • Immigration: Campaign site: "working to prevent the deportation of honorably discharged veterans"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Health care: Campaign site: says he "voted down extremist Republican efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act" and voted to "cap the cost of insulin at $35"
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Immigration: In a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, when he was running for this seat: "We wouldn't have this problem if the chief executive (the president) of our country would simply execute the laws on the books."
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Health care: No public statement found
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Immigration: No public statement found
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Health care: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "We need Medicare for All! That means improved and expanded Medicare for everyone. No premiums or copays."
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • President Donald Trump
  • Gov. Greg Abbott
  • Speaker of the House Mike Johnson
  • House Majority Leader Steve Scalise
  • House Majority Whip Tom Emmer
Show all 40
  • U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz
  • U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey
  • Texas Alliance for Life (primary)
  • United States Congressman Mario Diaz Balart (listed by campaign)
  • Texas State Senator Adam Hinojosa (listed by campaign)
  • Texas State Representative Todd Hunter (listed by campaign)
  • Texas State Representative J.M. Lozano (listed by campaign)
  • Kleberg County Sheriff Richard Kirkpatrick (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Sheriff J.C. Hooper (listed by campaign)
  • Cameron County Constable Precinct 1 Norman Esquival (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 1 Chris Dorr (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 2 Jason McCahan (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 3 Jimmy Rivera (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 4 Monty Allen (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 5 Oscar Mendoza (listed by campaign)
  • Kleberg County Constable Precinct 2 Omar Rosales (listed by campaign)
  • Kleberg County Commissioner Chuck Shultz (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Commissioner Mike Pusley (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Tax Assessor/Collector Kevin Kieschnick (listed by campaign)
  • Mayor of Bishop Barrera Lopez (listed by campaign)
  • Mayor of Los Fresnos Alex Flores (listed by campaign)
  • Mayor of Laguna Vista Mike Carter (listed by campaign)
  • Corpus Christi City Council Woman Carolyn Vaughn (listed by campaign)
  • Tuloso-Midway ISD Board President Paul Arriaga (listed by campaign)
  • Rio Hondo City Commissioner Steve Bocanegra (listed by campaign)
  • Chairwoman of the Republican Party of Texas D'rinda Randall (listed by campaign)
  • Former San Benito City Commissioner Tom Goodman (listed by campaign)
  • SREC Committeewoman Melissa Knerr (listed by campaign)
  • Former Chairman of the Republican Party of Nueces County Michael Bergsma (listed by campaign)
  • Former TX-34 Candidate Jay Nagy (listed by campaign)
  • Former TX-34 Candidate Fred Hinojosa (listed by campaign)
  • Former TX-34 Candidate Scott Mandel (listed by campaign)
  • The LIBRE Initiative (listed by campaign)
  • The National Border Patrol Council (listed by campaign)
  • Americans for Prosperity (listed by campaign)
  • Former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela
  • LUPE Votes ("Endorsed with conditions")
  • Texas AFL-CIO
  • Texas AFT
  • National Education Association
  • Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND
None found in our research
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
Not found
Eric Flores

Eric Flores

Republican
On ballot as
Eric Flores
Current role
Attorney; partner at the law firm O'Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo (per campaign)
Background
  • Bachelor's degree, University of Texas at Austin
  • Law degree, Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
  • Former Texas Army National Guard infantry captain (per campaign)
  • Operation Guardian Support service on the southern border (per campaign)
  • Rio Grande Valley native from Mission (per Texas Tribune)
Experience
  • Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of Texas' criminal division, McAllen (2021 to early 2025) (per Texas Tribune)
  • Former city attorney and municipal judge in Alton (per Texas Tribune)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): won, 56.7% in an eight-candidate field
Top priorities
  • Cost of living: "I'll oppose reckless federal spending that fuels inflation"
  • Infrastructure: "I'll fight to secure federal funding for road, bridge, and port improvements"
  • Water: "I'll fight for federal investment in our water infrastructure"
  • Veterans: "I'll fight to reduce VA wait times and expand access to care throughout our communities"
  • Seniors' benefits: "I'll oppose any effort to cut those earned benefits"
  • Small business: "I'll fight for tax relief and reduced regulatory burdens for small business owners"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Immigration: In a July 2025 Texas Tribune interview, said he wants local employers to "have the workers that they need, having an efficient legal process for that"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Health care: Campaign site, on seniors: will "support expanding access to affordable prescription drugs"; on veterans: "reduce VA wait times and expand access to care"
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • President Donald Trump
  • Gov. Greg Abbott
  • Speaker of the House Mike Johnson
  • House Majority Leader Steve Scalise
  • House Majority Whip Tom Emmer
Show all 40
  • U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz
  • U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey
  • Texas Alliance for Life (primary)
  • United States Congressman Mario Diaz Balart (listed by campaign)
  • Texas State Senator Adam Hinojosa (listed by campaign)
  • Texas State Representative Todd Hunter (listed by campaign)
  • Texas State Representative J.M. Lozano (listed by campaign)
  • Kleberg County Sheriff Richard Kirkpatrick (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Sheriff J.C. Hooper (listed by campaign)
  • Cameron County Constable Precinct 1 Norman Esquival (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 1 Chris Dorr (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 2 Jason McCahan (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 3 Jimmy Rivera (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 4 Monty Allen (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Constable Precinct 5 Oscar Mendoza (listed by campaign)
  • Kleberg County Constable Precinct 2 Omar Rosales (listed by campaign)
  • Kleberg County Commissioner Chuck Shultz (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Commissioner Mike Pusley (listed by campaign)
  • Nueces County Tax Assessor/Collector Kevin Kieschnick (listed by campaign)
  • Mayor of Bishop Barrera Lopez (listed by campaign)
  • Mayor of Los Fresnos Alex Flores (listed by campaign)
  • Mayor of Laguna Vista Mike Carter (listed by campaign)
  • Corpus Christi City Council Woman Carolyn Vaughn (listed by campaign)
  • Tuloso-Midway ISD Board President Paul Arriaga (listed by campaign)
  • Rio Hondo City Commissioner Steve Bocanegra (listed by campaign)
  • Chairwoman of the Republican Party of Texas D'rinda Randall (listed by campaign)
  • Former San Benito City Commissioner Tom Goodman (listed by campaign)
  • SREC Committeewoman Melissa Knerr (listed by campaign)
  • Former Chairman of the Republican Party of Nueces County Michael Bergsma (listed by campaign)
  • Former TX-34 Candidate Jay Nagy (listed by campaign)
  • Former TX-34 Candidate Fred Hinojosa (listed by campaign)
  • Former TX-34 Candidate Scott Mandel (listed by campaign)
  • The LIBRE Initiative (listed by campaign)
  • The National Border Patrol Council (listed by campaign)
  • Americans for Prosperity (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
ericflores.com
Vicente Gonzalez

Vicente Gonzalez

Democratic Incumbent
On ballot as
Vicente Gonzalez
Current role
U.S. Representative, Texas' 34th Congressional District
Background
  • GED (1985)
  • Associate degree in banking and finance, Del Mar College (1990)
  • Bachelor's degree, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Law degree, what is now Texas A&M University School of Law
  • Founder, Law Office of V. Gonzalez and Associates (1997)
Experience
  • U.S. House, representing South Texas (since 2017) (per Texas Tribune)
  • U.S. Representative, 15th District; three terms before switching to the 34th (per Texas Tribune)
  • Member, House Financial Services Committee (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 62.7%
Top priorities
  • Affordability: "supporting policies that promote economic stability, protect working families"
  • Seniors: "safeguarding programs that provide financial security and access to healthcare"
  • Health care: "No family should have to choose between getting medical care and meeting basic needs."
  • Veterans: "working to prevent the deportation of honorably discharged veterans and expand healthcare options closer to home"
  • Jobs: supports efforts that "encourage job creation, strengthen small businesses, and invest in industries that bring sustainable growth to the region"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: Campaign site: supports "assuring every woman retains the right to make her own healthcare decisions"
  • Immigration: Campaign site: "working to prevent the deportation of honorably discharged veterans"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Health care: Campaign site: says he "voted down extremist Republican efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act" and voted to "cap the cost of insulin at $35"
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • Former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela
  • LUPE Votes ("Endorsed with conditions")
  • Texas AFL-CIO
  • Texas AFT
  • National Education Association
  • Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND
Campaign website
vicentegonzalez.com
Chris Royal

Chris Royal

Libertarian
On ballot as
Chris Royal
Current role
Not found
Background
  • Bachelor's degree, Southwest Missouri State University (1982) (per Ballotpedia)
  • Law degree (1990) (per Ballotpedia)
  • U.S. Army veteran (per Ballotpedia)
  • Has worked as a teacher, lawyer, computer programmer and author of a real estate textbook (per Ballotpedia)
  • Born in Kokomo, Indiana
  • Has lived in Harlingen since 1993 (per his 2024 Ballotpedia survey)
Experience
  • Libertarian Party convention (March 21, 2026): advanced
Top priorities
Not found
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Immigration: In a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, when he was running for this seat: "We wouldn't have this problem if the chief executive (the president) of our country would simply execute the laws on the books."
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Health care: No public statement found
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
Eddie Espinoza

Eddie Espinoza

Green
On ballot as
Eddie Espinoza
Current role
Not found
Background
  • Graduate, Mission High School (per Ballotpedia)
  • Bachelor's degree, University of Texas-Pan American (1994) (per Ballotpedia)
  • U.S. Army (1989–1991)
  • Combat infantry badge, Desert Storm (per his Ballotpedia survey)
  • Former teacher, Rio Grande Valley public schools; 26 years (per his Ballotpedia survey)
  • Born in Dallas (per Ballotpedia)
Experience
  • Ran for Texas Railroad Commissioner (2024); lost the general election (per Ballotpedia)
  • Green Party convention (March 21, 2026): advanced
Top priorities
  • "We need a Constitutional Amendment to end Citizens United and rein in PACs, dark money, and billionaires."
  • "we must transition to 100% clean renewable energy ASAP"
  • Says new LNG export terminals and a new refinery "at the Port of Brownsville must be canceled"
  • "We need Medicare for All!"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Immigration: No public statement found
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Health care: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "We need Medicare for All! That means improved and expanded Medicare for everyone. No premiums or copays."
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found