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Trump Cuts Bait on Mayra Flores in CD 34
with Plug for Rival with Same Last Name
Capitol Inside
December 19, 2025
President Donald Trump gave MAGA true believers more cause to turn against him on Friday when threw his support for the March 3 primary behind a Texas congressional member who's moderate by GOP standards and a former Democratic state lawmaker's son who's competing as a Republican against a candidate he backed for the U.S. House last year.
Trump gave a civil war-torn base another reason to howl when he served "complete and total" endorsements for U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in a re-election race in Congressional District 23 where he's facing a trio of primary foes include former representative Francisco "Quico" Canseco and Brandon Herrera as a challenger who almost knocked the incumbent off in a runoff in 2024.
But Trump sparked a backlash from the right that appeared more intense when he made a glowing pitch for South Texas lawyer Eric Flores in an open race in Congressional District 34 where he's competing in the primary election in a field of eight Republicans that includes Mayra Flores as the candidate who the president backed for the seat last year.
Mayra Flores won the CD 34 seat in a special election in the summer of 2022. But she served in Congress for six months before an early exit after losing in the general election to Democratic U.S. Vicente Gonzalez by 8 percentage points. Flores crushed three primary foes in 2024 en route to the GOP nomination in CD 34 where she gave Gonzalez a scare in a rematch that he won by less than 3 percentage points. Gonzalez switched to CD 34 after Republicans in Austin redrew the district he had represented to favor a GOP candidate.
But Flores expected to finally have the advantage over the incumbent Democrat in the fall of 2026 on a new voting map that was drawn to put Republicans in position to win in CD 34 and four other districts that are currently controlled by Democrats. She could find the comeback bid in serious peril now that the other Flores in the contest has Trump in his corner for the primary.
The Flores who the president snubbed with his shift of allegiance to Eric Flores Trump called out Trump in a post on social media that invoked the pardon he dished out to Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo at outset of a re-election campaign in one of the districts that GOP leaders and lawmakers in Austin targeted for conversions in the summer redistricting plan. The show of presidential mercy put Cuellar in position to seek a new term as the favorite on a map that Trump ordered the Republicans at the Texas Capitol to reshape to give the party five more seats in the election in 2026.
A defiant Mayra Flores expressed her frustration with the president's primary loyalty switch in a post on X on Thursday night. "First, President Trump pardoned Democrat Henry Cuellar, and now he is endorsing a Biden DOJ appointee pretending to be MAGA," the GOP nominee from 2024 in CD 34 noted. "South Texas isn’t fooled as easily - and our campaign will stay focused on kitchen table issues and the many needs of the American people, not the political establishment in DC. We are unstoppable."
Trump endorsed Republican nominees in 17 congressional races in Texas in 2024. Mayra Flores was the only one of those who lost. But Trump made a world-class case for Eric Flores as his preferred candidates in CD 34 this time around.
"It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Eric Flores, who is running to represent the wonderful people of Texas’ 34th Congressional District," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social page. .
"A Brave U.S. Army Veteran, and former Criminal Prosecutor, Eric knows the Wisdom and Courage it takes to Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Strongly Support our Great Heroes in Law Enforcement, and Champion our Military and Veterans. In Congress, Eric will fight tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment," Trump said of the candidate in Texas CD 34.
"Eric Flores has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Congressman from Texas’ 34th Congressional District — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!," the president added.
Eric Flores' father - Ismael "Kino" Flores - served in the Texas House for 14 years before stepping down in 2011 after a Travis County jury found him guilty of government record tampering and perjury in the fall of 2010.
Mayra Flores invoked her chief primary rival's father in a pitch for Trump's endorsement at the start of December.
"Let’s set the record straight. Eric Flores who worked for the Biden administration from 2021 to 2025 is NOT related to me," Flores the former short-term representative in CD 34 pointed out on X. "His father, Democrat State Rep. Kino Flores, was found guilty of accepting $40,000 in payments in exchange for favorable treatment during a legislative session. Known as “Mr. Ten Percent,” Kino demanded 10% of profits from companies he awarded contracts to. This kind of corruption has no place in Congress! We don’t need corrupt RINOs pretending to represent us. My record in Congress proves I’m different. I have an America First voting record. I stood by President Trump through thick and thin. He has endorsed me multiple times because I deliver results and loyalty, not empty promises."
Eric Flores welcomed Trump's backing. “President Donald J. Trump just endorsed our campaign, and we’re fired up and ready to win!," the CD 34 competitor said on X. "South Texas is done with weak leadership, open borders, and politicians who don’t deliver. This race is about putting America First, securing our border, defending our energy jobs, and fighting for our values without apology! Let’s take this momentum, unify, and WIN TX-34. The fight is on!”
more to come ...
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