Congressional Victory Speech - Nov. 18, 2022

Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you so much. Praise God. We have won tonight. It is such an honor for me to stand before you tonight. If there was ever any doubt, let it be known tonight from the land of Juan Seguín, Selena, and our World Series champions, the Houston Astros, that the American Dream is alive. El Sueño Americano is alive and well in South Texas! And I am honored to be the first Latina in history to represent our community in the people’s House. The same legislative body that sent Americans to the moon, enshrined into law our shared belief that all men, regardless of their race, regardless of their color or creed are created equal by God, and made it possible for our daughters to vote today.

I want to briefly thank some very special people who are with me here tonight and who made this possible. First, thank you to my team. You all have worked tirelessly for three years, and your hard work has paid off. Thank you to my family, including mis papas, mi hermanito and his family, and to my children: Joseph and Sofia. I want you to know that regardless of what I do, being your mom is the best job I will ever have, and I love you so much. I also want all of us to give a round of applause to my opponent, Michelle Vallejo. Michelle, you ran a good race. A tough race. And I am proud of you, as I’m sure your family is proud of you as well. I want all of your supporters to know that they can count on me to fight for all of South Texas. Because you all know me out there, and if you know me, you know I’m a fighter. Chiquita pero picosa!

My friends, as we gather here tonight, I want it to be known that my victory is not just a win for Republicans. It is a win and a victory for all South Texas. Y para nosotros. It is a victory for all the small businesses and families that work harder than ever but find themselves struggling in an economy that leaves too many Americans behind. It is a victory for our brave border control agents, who work—(applause)—it is our border patrol agents’ victory tonight, who work 24/7 to keep our country safe. And I thank you and honor you for your work. It is a victory for our oil field workers, it is a victory for our farmers and our ranchers, and it is a victory for todos los papas who want the best education for our children, regardless of their zip code. Tonight is also a victory for every woman in our community that has to go to Mexico—a victory for every woman that has to go to Mexico for mammograms, because after 119 years of one-party control, we still have entire counties here without a single doctor. It is a victory for every single Hispanic who loves the Spanish language and does not want to be called Latin-x.

I also want to send a message to the millions of Latinos who are watching me at home tonight. Regardless of how you voted, este es tu partido. We are the party that wants Hispanics to prosper, not depend on the government. We are the party that believes every child, regardless of their race, gender, or disability, is a gift from almighty God. We are the party que respecta tu futura y tu idioma because we recognize Hispanics as a people who have given the world cultural icons such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Luis Miguel, and our beloved Selena. We are the party that rejects the false choice between legal immigration and strong border security. We believe in both! To my Spanish speakers, somos el Partido de la prosperidad, la seguridad, las familias, y la fe. Y esta es su casa. We are the party that understands Hispanics do not worship government. We worship God. Whether we are talking about Mexican Americans, Boricuas, Dominicanos, Cubanos, we are all united by faith, family, and a love of country. Te familia y patria. This is not just a slogan; it is the beating heart of Hispanics and every single American across this beautiful land.

But my friends, I tell you right now: we have a lot of work to do. Just like Washington, our community has been under one-party control for far too long. Come January, we begin the hard work of fixing our economy, securing our border, restoring accountability to the government, and bringing healthcare to our community. It won’t be easy. No, it won’t be easy. And change won’t happen overnight, but I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work with both parties because I want to secure the promise of America for the next generation. And for those of you, especially the single moms out there, working two or three jobs to feed your children. I see you. I see you. And I understand. And I’m going to make sure that your voice is heard in Washington, D.C.

Regardless of whether you are Republican or Democrat, I have no doubt that we will leave a nation that is even stronger, more prosperous, and secure. Estamos unidos en fe, estamos unidos en familia, estamos unidos en patria. Estamos unidos. Que dios los bendiga. May God bless you, may God bless Texas, and may God bless America.