WASHINGTON — Most of the Texans in the House of Representatives are expected to sail to reelection, but that is not the case in a district on the Texas-Mexico border. The Republican incumbent, Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, is locked in a rematch with a Democrat who is taking a much harder line on the issue of border security than just two years ago.

What You Need To Know

  • The Republican incumbent, Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, is locked in a rematch with Democrat Michelle Vallejo, who is taking a much harder line on the issue of border security than just two years ago

  • When Vallejo first ran against De La Cruz two years ago in the 15th Congressional District, she positioned herself as a progressive and lost by about 9 percentage points

  • National Republicans groups have accused Vallejo of "border posturing." Meanwhile, national Democrats argue Vallejo has been unwavering and that De La Cruz fell in line when the GOP tanked a bipartisan border security and immigration deal 
 

In her bid to defeat De La Cruz in South Texas, Democrat Michelle Vallejo is trying to turn the tables by ramping up the rhetoric on border security. It’s a tactic Republicans around the country are using against Democrats.

“Our community is being overwhelmed by the chaos at the border, and it's time to get serious. I'll work with Republicans and Democrats to add thousands of new border patrol agents and take on the cartels and human trafficking,” Vallejo said in one of her first political ads of the election cycle.

Vallejo ran against De La Cruz two years ago in the 15th Congressional District. She positioned herself as a progressive, and lost by about 9 percentage points. Her new tone border on security has not gone unnoticed.

“Some of her supporters on the Democratic side were a bit upset by, sort of, what they perceived as a slight pivot on the issue or a change in tone,” said Alvaro Corral, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

In a statement, House Republicans’ campaign arm said, “While Democrats duke it out over Michelle Vallejo's fake border posturing, Republicans are united in securing the border, keeping South Texas communities safe and re-electing Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz.”

Vallejo’s ad reflects a position Democrats at top of the ticket are also adopting. They not only talk about immigration reform, but also about the need for border security.

“The United States is a sovereign nation, and I believe we have a duty to set rules at our border and to enforce them, and I take that responsibility very seriously,” said Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign event last month in Douglas, Arizona.

In a statement, House Democrats' campaign arm said, “Michelle Vallejo has been unwavering in her call to secure the border — a stark contrast with Monica De La Cruz, who fell in line when her party bosses tanked a bipartisan border security deal that would have increased funding for Border Patrol agents for the sole purpose of campaigning on the issue.”

The record number of illegal border crossings last year reached a record high, but the numbers have plunged after the Biden administration imposed new asylum restrictions at the southern border in the spring.

“It's very clear that over the course of the Biden administration, voters across the country, in addition to, of course, including Congressional District 15, have pivoted a bit on immigration. I think there's been more of an appetite for stricter enforcement at the border. This is obviously a congressional district that touches the southern border,” Corral said.

The Cook Political Report, which rates the competitiveness of House racesM says De La Cruz is favored to hold onto her seat. Earlier this month, a poll conducted by House Majority PAC has Vallejo just 3 points away from De La Cruz, 45% to 48%.