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| Gina Ortiz Jones |
A WAVE of first-time candidates are running for office this year, most of them hoping to be able to work in Congress against policies being proposed or enacted by the Donald Trump administration.
Gina Ortiz Jones, 36, a Filipina/American, is one of those novice politicians not satisfied with merely sitting on the sidelines and who wants to become a game changer.
At first, as the new administration came in, she thought that she could still work under Trump as a director in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, But there came a point when she realized that the current administration was working against all that she believed in.
“I knew my time in public service would be different,” says Jones in an interview with Marfa Public Radio and West Texas Public Radio. “I knew it would be different having been a veteran, as a woman, as a member of the LGBT community, as a first-generation American, I knew just how this administration ran their campaign what they would focus on.”
Jones’ single mother had relied on subsidized housing and school when raising her in San Antonio. Trump’s plans to slash education and housing assistance was just too much for her to not do something to counteract the direction Trump was moving the country in. Jones also thought the people Trump was hiring for top posts “were interested neither in the public nor service.”
Gina Ortiz Jones, 36, a Filipina/American, is one of those novice politicians not satisfied with merely sitting on the sidelines and who wants to become a game changer.
At first, as the new administration came in, she thought that she could still work under Trump as a director in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, But there came a point when she realized that the current administration was working against all that she believed in.
“I knew my time in public service would be different,” says Jones in an interview with Marfa Public Radio and West Texas Public Radio. “I knew it would be different having been a veteran, as a woman, as a member of the LGBT community, as a first-generation American, I knew just how this administration ran their campaign what they would focus on.”
Jones’ single mother had relied on subsidized housing and school when raising her in San Antonio. Trump’s plans to slash education and housing assistance was just too much for her to not do something to counteract the direction Trump was moving the country in. Jones also thought the people Trump was hiring for top posts “were interested neither in the public nor service.”
Jones is trying to unseat two-term incumbent Rep. Will Hurd (R). But first she must win the March 6 Democratic primary over three other Democrats.
District 23 is one of the most competitive congressional districts in Texas, running from San Antonio to El Paso. During the 2016 November election, it was one of the few Congressional districts in the red state and that narrowly voted for Hilary Clinton, while electing a Republican representative.
Jones has been endorsed by major national groups including EMILY’s List, VoteVets and Victory Fund. Former Texas Democratic state senator and gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis is backing her, so is Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who gave a passionate speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. She’s also running as Democrats have scored notable victories around the country.
"The elections in Virginia, Alabama, and Atlanta have proven that momentum is on our side, and the American people are ready for change," she said.
If elected, she would become the first Filipina/American to serve in Congress. From her campaign website, Jones writes why she is running for office:
My mother came to the United States 40 years ago, because of her belief in the unique promise of America.
As a single-mother, she worked two jobs at times to ensure that my sister and I could achieve the opportunities that only this country could provide.
I grew up knowing hard work, not circumstances to which we were born, should determine our trajectory. This promise is currently under threat, but I still believe we can be a country whose actions match our highest ideals.
That’s a country equally focused on creating good job-paying jobs, while strengthening our middle class.
That’s a country that is focused on providing quality healthcare to all, while still ensuring we lead the industrialized world in medical breakthroughs.
That’s a country that embraces our immigrant history and our collective responsibility to ensure that the American Dream remains a possibility for all that dare to achieve it.
That’s a country that understands our exceptional role in this world, yet understands that our exceptionalism is rooted in the opportunities we afford for the most vulnerable amongst us to become our most promising.__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Our state and our country are worth fighting for. It’s why I joined the military, it’s why I served in Iraq, it’s why I’ve dedicated my life to public service, and it’s why I’m running to serve Texas’ 23rd Congressional District.
I look forward to fighting alongside you.
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