Biography:
— Representative from Texas.
— Born in Laredo, Webb County, Tex., September 19, 1955.
— Graduated from J.W. Nixon High School, Laredo, Tex., 1974.
— A.A., Laredo Community College, Laredo, Tex., 1976.
— B.S., Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., 1978.
— J.D., University of Texas, Austin, Tex., 1981.
— M.A., Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Tex., 1982.
— Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin, Tex., 1998.
— Lawyer, private practice.
— Member of the Texas state house of representatives, 1987-2001.
— Unsuccessful candidate for election to the One Hundred Eighth Congress in 2002.
— Texas secretary of state, 2001.
— Elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Ninth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2005-present).