Veronica Escobar sworn in as new federal representative for El Paso
Veronica Escobar, former El Paso County Judge, has been sworn in as El Paso’s federal representative.
Escobar was sworn in as a member of the 116th United States Congress Thursday, part of the newly-elected Democrat majority in the lower chamber. She cast her first vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.
Escobar is the first woman to represent the 16th Congressional District in Texas since it was formed in 1903. In November 2018, Escobar and Sylvia Garcia also earned the distinction of being the first Latinas ever elected to represent a Texas congressional district in Congress.
Escobar’s first tweet as a representative read she was happy to support Pelosi, who was elected speaker with the Democratic majority. “I just proudly cast my first vote on the House floor for Nancy “no wall” Pelosi. So ready to work with Madam Speaker @NancyPelosi for an America for the people! #116Congress”
Escobar sat at the front row of the new House as Pelosi addressed the new House, a sign of the El Paso representative’s unusually prominent role as an first-term lawmaker.
Escobar, who replaces Beto O’Rourke after he turned down re-election, has been vocal across the media when it comes to border issues, addressing national programs and speaking on the ongoing migrant influx in El Paso that led to shelters being full and migrants being released on the streets.
Escobar has already been close to the Democratc leadership, discussing border issues with Speaker Pelosi in recent months. El Paso’s Congresswoman said she believes the Democrat-controlled House should find a balance between oversight and lawmaking, working with Republicans and keeping them in check. She told ABC-7 looks forward to meeting her fellow Republican lawmakers, especially freshmen from Texas.
“Even, just as a citizen, I was tired of the gridlock, so I want us to find areas of agreement and places we can work together, but it takes two. It can’t just be one side, and so it’s going to take the other side as well working together,” said Escobar.
