{ "id": "epqs5cfxnz", "slug": "janie-lopez", "title": "Janie Lopez", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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"geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-l-to-mo", "label": "Surnames L to Mo", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-l-to-mo" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Janie Lopez is an American politician and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 37 in south Texas since her 2022 election.", "snippet": "Janie Lopez is an American politician and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 37 in south Texas since her 2022 election.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-l-to-mo", "markdown": "# Janie Lopez\n\nJanie Lopez is an American politician and a Republican member of the [Texas House of Representatives](https://www.edgepedia.org/texas-house-of-representatives), representing District 37, an area in south Texas that includes Willacy and Cameron Counties.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) She was elected in November 2022, becoming the first Republican Hispanic elected to represent the district.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) Before her election to the House, she served as a trustee of the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) In March 2026, she won the Republican primary for House District 37 with 69 percent of the vote.[2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Republican[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) |\n| Current office | Member, Texas House of Representatives, District 37[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) |\n| Previous offices | Trustee, San Benito Consolidated Independent School District, Place 7[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) |\n| Education | San Benito High School (1997); Associate's degree, Texas Southmost College; Bachelor's, University of Texas at Brownsville; Master's degrees in Education and Business[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) • [3](https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/legislative-directory-texas-house-of-representatives/texas-house-of-representatives/state-rep-janie-lopez/) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nLopez is a Republican.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) She is a member of the Texas House Republican Party Caucus, the Texas Conservative Caucus, the Aerospace Caucus, the House Water Caucus, and the Texas Energy Council.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nLopez's parents legally migrated from Mexico to the United States. As a middle child of seven siblings, she has said her parents devoted themselves to instilling the importance of hard work and education.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) She graduated from San Benito High School in 1997 and became the first in her family to attend and graduate college.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) She earned an Associate's degree from Texas Southmost College, a Bachelor's from the University of Texas at Brownsville, and Master's degrees in [Education](https://www.edgepedia.org/education) and Business.[3](https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/legislative-directory-texas-house-of-representatives/texas-house-of-representatives/state-rep-janie-lopez/) She has worked in food service, manufacturing, and retail, and built a career as a mental healthcare professional treating at-risk children, veterans, and first responders with PTSD.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) She is pursuing a doctorate in Community Care and Counseling.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography)\n\n## Career\n\nBefore her election to the Texas House, Lopez served as a San Benito Consolidated Independent School District trustee in Place 7, where she was the school board's Vice-President and Chair of Finance and Administration.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) Her official House biography states that under her leadership as a director of the district, student achievement increased and disciplinary referrals were reduced by 66 percent, and that she served as a GEAR UP counselor in Brownsville CISD.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography)\n\nLopez was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from District 37 in November 2022.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) In 2023, she was appointed to the Environmental Regulation Committee and the [Juvenile Justice](https://www.edgepedia.org/juvenile-justice) & Family Issues Committee.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) She currently serves on [Agriculture](https://www.edgepedia.org/agriculture) & [Livestock](https://www.edgepedia.org/livestock), Appropriations, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Article III, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles I, IV, and V, and Calendars.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) For the 89th Legislative Session, Speaker Dustin Burrows appointed her to the House Committees on Agriculture & Livestock, Appropriations, and Calendars.[3](https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/legislative-directory-texas-house-of-representatives/texas-house-of-representatives/state-rep-janie-lopez/)\n\n## Electoral history\n\nIn November 2022, Lopez was elected to the Texas House from District 37, becoming the first Republican Hispanic elected to represent the district.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) In 2024, she held the seat with a 10-point win over Democrat Jonathan Gracia.[2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html) In the 2026 Republican primary, Lopez won 69 percent of the vote and challenger Kristin Luckey received 31 percent.[2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html) She will face Democrat Oziel Ochoa Jr., who won the May 2026 Democratic runoff, in the general election on November 3, 2026.[2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html)\n\n## Issues specific to Lopez\n\nLopez has been endorsed for re-election by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, which cited her record on policies affecting Texas small businesses; by the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee, which cited her commitment to protecting private property rights and supporting homeownership; and by the Texas Municipal Police Association.[4](https://www.janielopez.com/) She has also been endorsed by President Donald Trump, Governor Greg Abbott, U.S. Senator [Ted Cruz](https://www.edgepedia.org/ted-cruz), Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.[2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html) After winning the 2026 primary, Lopez posted on social media, \"As Election Day winds down, I want to take a moment to thank all of our incredible volunteers and workers for their outstanding effort. They did an amazing job getting out the vote in this primary election.\"[2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Taxes and cost of living\n\nLopez has said she prioritizes lowering property taxes and lowering the cost of living.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) • [2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html) On her campaign website, she writes that she supports expanding access, lowering premiums, providing pay raises for healthcare providers, and capping prescription drug costs for those in need.[4](https://www.janielopez.com/)\n\n### Border security and infrastructure\n\nLopez has said she supports investing in border security and improving infrastructure, and that she wants to fully secure the border.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) • [2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html)\n\n### Education\n\nLopez has said she wants to properly fund schools and supports increased school funding.[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) • [2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html) She has also said she wants to ban \"woke DEI teachings in schools.\"[2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html)\n\n### Social issues\n\nLopez has said she wants to protect life in the womb, fight human trafficking, and stop what she called the \"dangerous defunding of police.\"[1](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography) She has also said she wants to ban \"gender mutilation,\" boys participating in girls' sports, and men using women's restrooms.[2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html)\n\n### Economy and regulation\n\nLopez has highlighted support for seniors and veterans and for tourism through simplified regulations.[2](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html) Her campaign website states she supports policies that encourage economic growth and opportunity for Texas small businesses.[4](https://www.janielopez.com/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Janie Lopez Biography, Texas House of Representatives](https://www.house.texas.gov/members/4295/biography)\n2. [Incumbent Janie Lopez Wins Republican Primary in Rio Grande Valley House District, The Texan](https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/incumbent-janie-lopez-wins-republican-primary-in-rio-grande-valley-house-district/article_407a10bc-23d3-48cc-8df5-c99014a32f38.html)\n3. [State Rep. Janie Lopez, Texas Policy Research](https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/legislative-directory-texas-house-of-representatives/texas-house-of-representatives/state-rep-janie-lopez/)\n4. [Janie Lopez Campaign Website](https://www.janielopez.com/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Southern state legislators › Surnames L to Mo*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/janie-lopez", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/janie-lopez.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Janie Lopez\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/janie-lopez. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Janie Lopez](https://www.edgepedia.org/janie-lopez)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/janie-lopez](https://www.edgepedia.org/janie-lopez). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Janie Lopez\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/janie-lopez. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Janie Lopez is an American politician and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 37 in south Texas since her 2022 election." }