Representing Laredo

After a vacancy was created when Republican Governor Rick Perry appointed State Rep. Henry Cuellar Secretary of State in 2001, Richard Peña Raymond was elected by Laredo voters to serve District 42 in the Texas House of Representatives. Richard defeated three opponents without a runoff, amassing 55% of the vote. Richard was re-elected in 2002 and 2004 without opposition, and again in 2006 after a hard-fought primary election campaign.

Richard immediately went to work for Laredo, using experience he gained representing seven South Texas counties between Laredo and San Antonio from 1993 to 1999.

Richard’s House district is one of the most Hispanic districts in the state, and he made Hispanic representation a top priority. As a Member of the Redistricting Committee, Richard championed Hispanic Voting Rights and led the fight against Tom DeLay’s partisan redistricting plan. Richard worked tirelessly in committee, on the House floor, and across the state to mobilize Texans Democrats against redistricting. Ultimately, Richard’s efforts led the House Democrats to Ardmore, Oklahoma to stop a plan that would have denied Voting Rights to millions of Texans. Rep. Raymond is the only House Member to join the lawsuit challenging the redistricting plan.

During the summer of 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case and found in favor of the people of Texas, overturning the Congressional districts drawn by Tom DeLay and the Republicans and leading to new elections.

Richard’s achievements include passing legislation that created the Texas Tomorrow Fund, a pre-paid college tuition program, as well as legislation to reduce diabetes, improve education and improving “Welfare to Work.”

Richard served six years on the powerful Appropriations Committee, as Chairman for Budget and Oversight for the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee. He serves on the Committee on Civil Practices and the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence.