AUSTIN, Texas — It's Texas' perennial swing district and this November, the race for the state's 23rd Congressional seat is open and more competitive than ever.

Republican Tony Gonzales and Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones are duking it out for the chance to succeed outgoing Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes.

Gonzales is a Navy veteran, while Ortiz Jones is a former intelligence officer and captain in the Air Force.

The district includes 820 miles of border land between the cities of El Paso and San Antonio and is 70 percent Hispanic.

Ortiz Jones ran against Hurd in 2018 and lost to him by less than one percent.

Gonzales says his campaign’s about economic mobility and limited government. He spoke with Capital Tonight’s Karina Kling about the high-profile race and the issues he’d like to tackle if elected.

Gonzales’ interview is part of a series of candidate conversations Capital Tonight is doing leading up to the November election.