is the largest of Texas 's Congressional districts, covering the southwestern portion of the state. It is a Latino-majority district and its current Representative is Democrat Ciro Rodriguez .
The district runs along the majority of Texas's border with Mexico , just north of the Rio Grande . While it encompasses numerous county seats and a few towns of regional economic importance, the district is predominantly rural, with no major urban area in the district, although it abuts the San Antonio suburbs. It has one of the lowest population densities of any congressional district. It encompasses all of Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park . Major economic activities in the district include farming, ranching, oil and mineral extraction, recreation and tourism.
As of the 2000 Census , the district contained 651,620 people. Of these, 41% are Anglo, 55.1% Hispanic, 2% Black, and 2.2% other. tlc.state.tx.us The district's population is 74.6% urban. tlc.state.tx.us Per capita Income for the district is $18,692. The district has a 6.5% unemployment rate. Of the employed, 71.8% is private, 19.4% government, and 8.4% self-employed. tlc.state.tx.us Major industries include Retail trade, Education services, Health Care, and Manufacturing. 222,012 households are within the district, with an average of 2.8 persons per household. tlc.state.tx.us
This district was created in 1967, after the Supreme Court ruled that Texas's previous district map was unconstitutional. Democrats held the district until 1993.
In 1992, the Texas Legislature created the new out of much of the 23rd's territory. In the process, the legislature left a heavily Republican section of San Antonio in the 23rd. Charging 8-year incumbent Albert Bustamante with neglecting the 23rd's needs, Bonilla won by the largest margin of victory against an incumbent that year, and took his seat in 1993.
Even though the 23rd had a slight Democratic lean, Bonilla has had a very conservative voting record. Largely because of his popularity in San Antonio, he didn't face a credible challenge until 2002 , when former Democratic Texas Secretary Of State Henry Cuellar came within 2 points of unseating him.
During the 2003 Texas Redistricting , the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature drew most of Laredo , which had been one of the bases of the 23rd for its entire existence, into the . In return, Bonilla received several heavily Republican San Antonio suburbs, all but assuring him of a 7th term.
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