- The five remaining Republican candidates seeking to challenge Democrat Congressman Vicente Gonzalez faced off at a candidate forum on South Padre Island on Saturday
- A straw poll conducted at the event was won decisively by Eric Flores, who is endorsed by President Trump and three former Republican candidates for the seat who have dropped out in recent weeks
- Former Congresswoman Mayra Flores, who is also seeking the Republican nomination, has become increasingly reliant on social media personalities with troubled personal backgrounds to attack Eric Flores
Sitting on a stage designed like a boxing ring, the five remaining Republican candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Congressional District 34 faced off at the “Coastal Candidate Rumble” on South Padre Island on Saturday. The event, hosted by the Republican Women of Cameron County, drew approximately 200 energetic attendees, as well as representatives from local mainstream news media.
Congressional District 34 covers a swath of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley from Corpus Christi to Brownsville. Currently represented by Democrat Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, the district was redrawn during the recent Congressional redistricting to make it more favorable to Republican candidates. Despite redistricting, the Cook Political Report currently rates the district as a “toss-up” for the 2026 general election.
Candidates Eric Flores, Mayra Flores, Luis Buentello, Gregory Kunkle, and Keith Allen largely agreed on public policy, with the candidates differentiating themselves through their personal backgrounds and support.
Eric Flores emphasized his commitment to public service, having served in the United States Army and later as a Federal prosecutor. He also touted his endorsements from President Donald J. Trump and the National Border Patrol Council. “South Texas doesn’t need another career politician. What we need is a battle-tested fighter, somebody who has always stood the watch,” he told the crowd.
Mayra Flores, who served briefly in Congress after winning a 2022 special election before losing the 2022 and 2024 general elections to Democrat Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, expressed a belief that she was entitled to the nomination in 2026 because of her past campaigns. She criticized those who point out that she has lost twice to Gonzalez, saying, “I find that so disrespectful, not just towards me, but towards my team.”
Luis Buentello, a former Congressional aide, discussed his work helping constituents as a district aide to Congressmen Blake Farenthold and Michael Cloud for twelve years. “I know how Congress works, and I know how to make Congress work for you. During those years in Congress, I dealt with constituents on an almost daily basis,” said Buentello. “I’ve run a district, and I’m ready to make sure our district is running day one. There’s not going to be learning as I go.”
Gregory Kunkle stressed his personal ties to the district, while Keith Allen focused on his business experience and background as an ordained pastor.
Mayra Flores and Kunkle attempted to make an issue of Eric Flores’ past work, with one of Mayra Flores’ supporters asking Eric Flores a question about work for the “Biden DOJ” during the question-and-answer period. Eric Flores made it clear he was not a political appointee and did not support the “failed” Biden administration.
“I was never what they call a political appointee, right? I served alongside millions of Americans, whether that is under the Obama administration, the Bush administration, the Trump administration, we were there to do our jobs. Biden DOJ is for somebody who is a political appointee. I’m what you call a career prosecutor. And despite the autopen Joe Biden failed administration, we did our job. We locked up Texas’ Top 10 Most Wanted child predator and dismantled the largest human smuggling organization here. If I was true Biden DOJ, weaponizing his President Trump, I certainly want to gotten his endorsement,” remarked Eric Flores, who added that he was one of President Trump’s finalists to be the appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.
“We don’t need punchline candidates. We don’t need career candidates. We need service members.”
In a follow-up to the question regarding Eric Flores’ professional background, Buentello expressed his belief that allegations that Eric Flores worked for the “Biden DOJ” are without merit.
“He was not appointed by Biden, that’s a fact. Even if I lose votes because of that, it doesn’t matter. I need to be clear about this. I need to defend what is right and where things stand. He was just an employee. He was an employee at the Justice Department, just like a lot of people work for different federal agencies,” said Buentello of the attacks against Eric Flores.
Mayra Flores came under fire from her opponents for her practice of paying herself a monthly salary from her campaign account. The Texas Voice has previously reported that Mayra Flores paid herself a total of $38,500 in salary payments from her campaign during the two most recent quarters for which campaign finance data is available.
Eric Flores proposed amending campaign finance laws to prohibit candidates from accepting payments from their own campaign and pledged to donate his Congressional salary if elected.
“We need candidates who are going up there to serve the people. That is why I’ve already pledged to also donate my congressional salary. Because it is simple – you all are the reason why I am serving. I’ve never served in a governmental capacity to make a dime,” remarked Eric Flores. “And I certainly don’t ask donors to donate to my campaign to live off of donor money.”
Mayra Flores did not address her personal use of campaign funds during the forum.
Momentum in the race has favored Eric Flores in recent weeks, which was evidenced by the results of a straw poll conducted at the conclusion of the forum. Eric Flores scored a decisive 46-27 victory over Mayra Flores in the straw poll, with the other candidates far behind.
Since President Trump endorsed Eric Flores on December 18, three CD 34 candidates who will still appear on the Republican Primary ballot – Jay Nagy, Fred Hinojosa, and Scott Mandel – have dropped out of the race and endorsed Eric Flores.
“Eric Flores served our country in uniform on the southern border. While he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he put violent criminals, child predators, and human smugglers behind bars. We can trust him to fight for us and advocate for the needs of the entire region. For the needs of the entire region, Eric Flores has my endorsement and my vote,” said Fred Hinojosa, whose brother, State Senator Adam Hinojosa, represents a district that encompasses much of Congressional District 34.
Scott Mandel, a wealthy Corpus Christi businessman, also threw his support to Eric Flores last week. “I am proud to officially endorse Eric Flores for Congress. Eric is the fighter South Texas needs to secure our future and protect our values. I want to thank all of my supporters for their incredible dedication. Now, let’s take that same energy and use it to help Eric win this fight for all of us,” wrote Mandel in a Facebook post endorsing Eric Flores.
In the aftermath of President Trump’s endorsement of Eric Flores, Mayra Flores has become increasingly reliant on social media personalities with troubled backgrounds to attack Eric Flores.
One of those social media personalities, Frankie Olivo of Brownsville, is currently on the payroll of a Democrat political campaign in Cameron County. Recent campaign finance reports reveal that Olivo was paid $1,500 by the campaign of Jonathan Gracia, a Democrat running for Cameron County Treasurer, on December 1, 2025.
According to Juan Montoya, publisher of the Cameron County political blog “El Rrun Rrun”, Olivo was charged with stalking and harassment in 2018. Montoya reported that the charges arose out of allegations that Olivo sent a woman a sexually explicit photograph that caused her to feel “harassed, alarmed, abused, tormented, embarrassed, or offended” and that Olivo agreed to a pre-trial diversion agreement to resolve the criminal case against him.
Joe Michael Perez, a Corpus Christi social media personality who has appeared alongside Mayra Flores at campaign events, is currently under a criminal indictment in Nueces County on a felony charge of publishing intimate visual material.
Mayra Flores frequently shares social media posts from Olivo and Perez that attack Eric Flores and promote her campaign. Both Olivo and Perez were present at the candidate forum.
