State of Texas
State Representative, District 42
Richard Pena Raymond
Democratic Incumbent- On ballot as
- Richard Pena Raymond
- Current role
- State Representative, Texas House District 42 (Laredo; since January 2001)
- Background
- B.A. in government, University of Texas at Austin
- J.D., University of Texas School of Law
- Businessman from Laredo; father of three (per campaign)
- Served four and a half years as a captain in the Texas State Guard (per campaign)
- Born in Alice; raised in Benavides, Texas
- Experience
- Member, House State Affairs and Elections committees (per the Texas Tribune directory)
- Democratic nominee, Texas Land Commissioner (1998); lost to David Dewhurst
- Texas House, rural South Texas district (first elected 1992; six years)
- Worked for U.S. Senators Lloyd Bentsen and Paul Simon, Land Commissioner Garry Mauro and Railroad Commissioner Bob Krueger
- Top priorities
- Campaign site: "Fighting for quality education, better teacher pay, and increased funding for our schools"
- "Expanding access to affordable healthcare and protecting the health and wellbeing of Texas families, seniors, and all those in need of medical care"
- "Creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and building a strong economy that works for everyone"
- "Keeping our communities safe while ensuring justice and accountability in our law enforcement and criminal justice systems"
- "Fighting to keep Laredo the #1 inland port in America"
- Tidbits
- Abortion: No public statement found
- Border and immigration: No public statement found
- Guns: No public statement found
- Public schools and vouchers: To the Laredo Morning Times in April 2026: "I have always been against the school vouchers because the vast majority of students attend public schools"
- Property taxes: Campaign site: "Delivered historic property tax relief including a $140,000 homestead exemption for every homeowner and $200,000 for seniors 65 and over."
- Endorsements
- Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) PAC
- NFIB Texas PAC (primary)
- TruckPAC (Texas Trucking Association) (primary)
- Campaign website
- richardraymond.com
Open in the full comparison: Webb County