Sen. Ted Cruz leads charge in Harlingen rally for U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores

Oct. 2—HARLINGEN — Several hundred supporters of U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores met Sunday to give raucous support for her re-election in November, spurred on by the Republican congresswoman and a fiery speech by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX.

The political rally at the Blue Moon Bar and Club had elements of a revival meeting, and the message for several hundred supporters in attendance was the Democrats' hold on the 34th Congressional District for the past 150 years was no more.

Flores, a Mexican immigrant who defeated Democrat Dan Sanchez in a special election earlier this year, is facing U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, who after re-districting, opted to run in the 34th District instead of the 15th District where he has served since 2017.

"I am their worst nightmare. All of a sudden, an immigrant, a woman, a mother is dangerous," Flores, R-Los Indios, said. "They've been claiming all these years that they're for people like me. But the moment that we fight for the values that we were raised with, do they not know that in Mexico you're raised with some conservative values? I was raised to always put God and family first, and I'm not willing to put that aside for their political party."

An RMG Research poll conducted two months ago showed Gonzalez leading Flores, 47 percent to 43 percent, within the poll's 4.9 percent margin of error.

"Before me, no one was talking about South Texas, no one was talking about Texas 34 in Washington," Flores said. "This isn't about me. This is about our kids' future, about your grand kids. Are they not worth you fighting for? I can't do this alone; I need every single one of you to go out there and vote."

The two political office-holders were introduced by Cruz's father, Rev. Rafael Cruz, a fiery Protestant preacher who emigrated to the United States from Cuba.

The elder Cruz condemned what he called the "Marxists in the White House," and said business as usual, at least when it comes to politics, is over in the Rio Grande Valley.

"It's about time that we as Hispanics, we as conservatives, we as Texans, say enough is enough," Rev. Cruz said. "We are taking this country back for the glory of God. The times of the Democrats that have had total control over South Texas are over."

"The Valley is going to be the tip of the spear," he added. "We are going to see a shock wave that is going to put all Democrats trembling, waiting for their defeat in November."

His son, Sen. Ted Cruz, has represented Texas in the Senate since 2013.

In 2018, he defeated challenger Beto O'Rourke 50.9 percent to 48.3 percent in what at the time was the most expensive Senate race ever.

"What is happening here right now is exciting," Cruz said. "It is transformational. South Texas is changing before our eyes, and it's changing the State of Texas. It's changing the country; it is leading a revival across this country."

The state's junior senator condemned actions by the White House and Congress, saying President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are "bat-crap crazy."

"Every single policy they put in place is a mess," Cruz said. "It's actually impressive to get everything wrong. If they literally rolled the dice, by accident they'd get something right. But everything they touch they destroy."

Cruz told the crowd it was vital to work for the re-election of Flores, urging them to vote, and urge family members and friends to vote, to volunteer, and to put out the word on social media.

"I'm here to tell you, Mayra's doing a fantastic job," Cruz said. "And what the Democrats are counting on is telling people in South Texas to shut up and vote Democrat. Just follow orders. You're not allowed to think for yourself. You're not allowed to recognize that your family is hurting, that your community is hurting, from policies that are idiotic."

"And I've got to tell you, that's not going to happen. And not only that, Mayra Flores will be re-elected," Cruz added.