Texas — 16th District

Veronica Escobar

Supports bipartisan immigration reform and asylum protections

Escobar advocates for comprehensive immigration reform that balances border management with expanded legal pathways to citizenship. She co-led the introduction of the bipartisan Dignity Act to modernize legal immigration, protect DREAMers, and improve asylum processing. She also introduced the Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act to halt federal seizure of church land for border wall construction.

• Co-introduced the Dignity Act as a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bill establishing legal pathways for undocumented immigrants and protecting DREAMers
• Introduced the Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act to stop federal land seizure beneath the statue of Jesus for border wall construction
• Voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act (S.5) and DUI deportation legislation (H.R. 875)

“My plan takes a practical, common-sense approach: strengthening border management, modernizing legal immigration, and restoring dignity to people navigating a broken system.”

Adam Bauman

Supports increased border enforcement and CBP support

Bauman prioritizes strict border security to prevent narcotics and criminal activity from entering El Paso. Drawing on his experience serving with the Border Patrol Tactical Team (BORTAC), he pledges full support for Customs and Border Protection's mission. He contends that securing the border is essential for local community safety and stability.

• Pledges full support for Customs and Border Protection to secure the border and keep El Paso safe
• Emphasizes personal experience serving on the Border Patrol Tactical Team (BORTAC)
• Focuses on apprehending criminals and interdicting illegal narcotics at the border

“Having served a career in the U.S Border Patrol as part of the Border Patrol Tactical Team, or BORTAC, I have seen first hand how many criminals are apprehended and amount of narcotics that are seized. I am committed to supporting the Custom's and Border Protection mission to protect our border and keep El Paso safe.”

Veronica Escobar

Supports Medicare for All and lowering drug costs

Escobar considers healthcare a human right and supports a single-payer Medicare for All system. She highlights legislative efforts capping insulin at $35 per month and expanding Medicare benefits to include vision, dental, and hearing care. She also opposed terminating CDC COVID-19 vaccination requirements for foreign travelers.

• Supports Medicare for All to guarantee universal access to healthcare
• Voted to cap insulin costs at $35 per month for seniors on Medicare
• Supports expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing care
• Voted Nay on terminating CDC COVID-19 vaccine proof requirements for foreign travelers (H.R. 185)

“I believe healthcare is a human right. That’s why I support Medicare for All to guarantee every American has access to comprehensive, affordable care.”

Adam Bauman

Opposes federal healthcare subsidies and cost-shifting

Bauman advocates reducing health insurance premiums by ending cross-subsidization where younger or lower-use customers pay higher rates to cover other demographic groups. He opposes federal government subsidies to lower healthcare costs. He aims to collaborate with leaders to reform insurance premium structures through market solutions.

• Opposes federal government subsidies for health insurance costs
• Aims to reform insurance premium structures so younger and lower-use customers are not charged higher premiums to cover other groups
• Seeks solutions to reduce insurance premiums without expanding federal government funding

“In Congress, we must work to make the cost more affordable so that one group of the population isn't paying more in premiums to cover the other. I am committed to working with other leaders to find a solution that will reduce the cost of insurance premiums and make insurance more affordable without the federal government subsidizing these costs.”

Veronica Escobar

Supports progressive taxation and higher wages

Escobar supports economic policies centered on working families, including raising the minimum wage, expanding the Child Tax Credit, and guaranteeing paid family leave. She advocates making corporations and high earners pay a fair share in taxes while promoting advanced manufacturing investments in El Paso. She voted Yea on the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and Nay on Republican debt limit and budget reconciliation bills.

• Supports raising the federal minimum wage, expanding the Child Tax Credit, and guaranteeing paid family leave
• Advocates ensuring corporations and ultra-wealthy individuals pay their fair share in taxes
• Worked to position El Paso as a leader in advanced manufacturing and job creation
• Voted Yea on the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and Nay on the Limit, Save, Grow Act (H.R. 2811)

“In Congress, I’m focused on making the economy work for working families. I’ve backed efforts to raise wages, support small businesses, and make sure corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share.”

Adam Bauman

Supports property tax relief and local business assistance

Bauman focuses on local economic relief, promising to work with local leaders to lower El Paso's property taxes. He criticizes excessive school district budgets and PR bonds (cashless bail) for driving up tax burdens. He also pledges dedicated resources and assistance to help local small businesses thrive.

• Committed to working with local leaders to make property taxes more affordable in El Paso
• Criticizes inflated property taxes caused by excessive school budgets and PR bonds (cashless bail)
• Pledges resources and assistance to support local small businesses under an 'El Paso Business FIRST' agenda

“El Paso's property taxes are among the highest in Texas, and it's time for a change. El Pasoan's deserve better than to struggle under the weight of inflated property taxes by excessive school budgets and PR Bonds(Cashless Bail).”

Veronica Escobar

Supports expanding veteran healthcare and military benefits

Escobar emphasizes comprehensive support for El Paso's veteran and active-duty community, including securing funding for a new local VA healthcare center. She voted for the PACT Act to care for toxic-exposed veterans, backed troop pay raises, and supported expanding housing, mental health, and childcare assistance for military families. She also voted Yea on the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

• Supported the PACT Act expanding healthcare for veterans exposed to toxic substances
• Secured federal funding for a new VA healthcare center in El Paso
• Voted Yea on the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
• Supported pay raises for enlisted troops, mental health care, and military housing and childcare benefits

“More than 50,000 veterans call our community home, and looking out for them is something I take seriously. When people come back from service, they shouldn’t have to fight to get care, find work, or rebuild their lives.”

Adam Bauman

Supports cutting red tape and expanding job training for veterans

As a Navy veteran, Bauman prioritizes improving care and benefits for military veterans. He promises to eliminate bureaucracy delaying veteran benefits and to expand job and training opportunities. He emphasizes honoring veterans through accessible healthcare and career transition support.

• Pledges to cut bureaucratic red tape delaying veteran benefits
• Focuses on expanding job and training opportunities for transitioning veterans
• Cites personal experience as a U.S. Navy Special Warfare Combatant Crewman Veteran

“As a U.S Navy Special Warfare Combatant Crewman Veteran, I understand the challenges that Veterans endure. I am dedicated to ensure our Veterans receive the care they deserve, cutting the red tape that delays benefits, expanding job and training opportunities.”

Veronica Escobar

Opposes Social Security cuts or privatization

Escobar advocates protecting Social Security from any benefit cuts or privatization efforts to ensure senior retirement security. She highlights her work capping insulin costs and out-of-pocket prescription expenses under Medicare. She also supports expanding Medicare coverage to include dental, vision, and hearing care.

• Opposes cuts or privatization of Social Security benefits
• Supported capping insulin at $35/month and limiting Medicare out-of-pocket costs
• Supports expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing services

“Seniors have earned the right to retire with dignity and security. I’m focused on protecting Social Security and making sure it’s there for the long haul—without cuts or privatization.”

Adam Bauman

Supports preserving Social Security without raising the retirement age

Bauman supports legislative action to keep Social Security solvent past 2034 without raising the eligibility age. He argues seniors deserve the full benefits they paid into throughout their working lives. He opposes forcing seniors to wait longer for retirement benefits.

• Supports common-sense legislation to ensure Social Security solvency beyond 2034
• Explicitly opposes raising the minimum retirement age to receive Social Security benefits

“I fully support enacting changes that will ensure Social Security remains in place, however, raising the minimum age limit to receive these benefits is not one of them. We need to enact common sense legislation that doesnt include making Seniors wait even longer to receive the benefits that they deserve.”

Veronica Escobar

Opposes restrictions on transgender student athletes

Escobar supports LGBTQ+ equality and voted against federal restrictions on transgender athletes. In the 119th Congress, she voted Nay on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28). She maintains that civil rights must be protected regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

• Voted Nay on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28)
• Supports federal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals

“Regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or identity, each person’s rights must be protected.”

Adam Bauman

Opposes biological men in women's sports and restrooms

Bauman opposes allowing biological males to compete in female athletic categories or use women-only restrooms. He frames the issue as a matter of protecting women's sports and safety. He promises to support federal policies restricting sports and restrooms strictly by biological sex.

• Opposes biological males participating in women's sports programs
• Opposes biological males using women-only restrooms

“Biological men have no business competing in women's sports and should not be allowed to use the women's restroom. I am committed to provide support for women only sports and women only restrooms, anything less is irresponsible.”

Veronica Escobar

Supports increased public education and special education funding

Escobar advocates for robust federal investment in public schools from early education through higher education. She supports fully funding special education, expanding financial literacy, and delivering federal funds for school broadband access and clean transportation.

• Supports fully funding federal special education programs
• Delivered federal funds to El Paso schools for broadband expansion and clean transportation
• Supports expanding financial literacy and enrichment programs in public schools

“I believe every child deserves access to a strong public education, no matter their zip code.”

Adam Bauman

Criticizes excessive school district budgets

Bauman references education primarily through the lens of local tax burdens. He criticizes excessive school budgets for inflating local property taxes in El Paso and promises to work with local leaders to lower tax rates.

• Criticizes excessive school budgets for driving up local property taxes

“El Pasoan's deserve better than to struggle under the weight of inflated property taxes by excessive school budgets and PR Bonds(Cashless Bail).”

Veronica Escobar

Supports strict federal gun control measures

Escobar advocates for strict gun control legislation, citing the impact of gun violence on El Paso. She supports banning assault weapons, mandatory universal background checks, safe storage laws, active shooter mobile alerts, and increased penalties for mass shooters.

• Supports federal bans on assault weapons
• Advocates for universal background checks on all firearm sales
• Supports mandatory safe firearm storage requirements and active shooter mobile alerts

“Long before a gunman entered our kind community with lethal actions, we’ve needed comprehensive gun safety legislation.”

Veronica Escobar

Supports clean energy investment and land conservation

Escobar treats climate change as an urgent priority, having served on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. She voted for federal clean energy investments and led local conservation efforts, successfully pushing for Castner Range to be designated a national monument. She also voted Nay on the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1).

• Served on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
• Led advocacy to designate El Paso's Castner Range as a national monument
• Voted Nay on H.R. 1 (Lower Energy Costs Act) in the 118th Congress

“By designating Castner Range as a national monument, we’re ensuring majority-minority communities like ours have access to America’s great outdoors.”

Veronica Escobar

Supports federal voting rights legislation and automatic registration

Escobar supports expanding voter access through federal legislation that establishes automatic voter registration, mandatory early voting, and making Election Day a federal holiday. She supports ending nationwide gerrymandering and reinstating the Voting Rights Act. In the 119th Congress, she voted Nay on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22).

• Voted Nay on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote
• Supports federal legislation making Election Day a holiday and mandating automatic voter registration
• Advocates reinstating the Voting Rights Act and banning nationwide gerrymandering

“I believe voting should be simple, secure, and accessible to every eligible American.”