As the election approaches for Texas’s 16th congressional district, two candidates are in the running to shape the future of the region.
Incumbent Veronica Escobar and challenger Irene Armendariz-Jackson face off for a third time, offering different views on key issues affecting students and contrasting visions for the future of El Paso.
Veronica Escobar
Student loans and affordability of higher education
Escobar shares that she supports President Biden’s efforts to forgive student loan debt and believes Congress also has a responsibility to create opportunities for people who want to attend four-year colleges, technical schools or other workforce training programs.
“It (student loan debt) is a terrible problem in our country because it literally prevents young people from saving money for a down payment for a home,” said Escobar. “It limits economic opportunities for young people who are recent graduates. And the federal government absolutely has a role and a responsibility in this.”
Escobar believes that federal incentives like student loan forgiveness or assistance with college costs could attract students to essential fields like healthcare.
Reproductive rights
According to Escobar, reproductive rights are one of the most existential issues for women in America today as access to contraception, abortion pills and IVF are being threatened.
“”I have spoken to women who have gone to the emergency room who are leaking amniotic fluid and can’t get care and there are women who as a result are not able to have children ever again because they couldn’t get the care they needed,” said Escobar. “This is the election that should mobilize every young woman who cares about her bodily autonomy and her rights and her freedoms because that’s what’s on the ballot.”
Escobar claims that the Democratic Party are the ones fighting to protect, preserve and enhance women’s reproductive rights and ensure that everyone has access to the information needed to make informed decisions about their bodies.
The economy
With the rising cost of living, Escobar believes a necessary step is raising the minimum wage and programs to help move young people into homes.
“I’m a firm believer in raising the minimum wage,” said Escobar. “Not that college graduates should have to live with the minimum wage, but we need to see wage increases in this country.”
To tackle inflation, Escobar stands with Vice President Kamala Harris’ plan to combat price gouging by corporations, as some companies have kept prices high despite their costs decreasing after the pandemic.
Immigration and the border
In a statement to El Paso Matters, Escobar shared she plans to reintroduce the Dignity Act of 2023, which she co-sponsored with Republican Florida Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar. The bill aims to provide legal protection for millions of undocumented people living in the United States, expand border enforcement agencies by refining their objectives, and revamp the asylum process.
Irene Armendariz-Jackson
Student loans and affordability of higher education
According to Armendariz-Jackson, the reason higher education is so expensive is because the government is so involved through grants and financial aid.
“The only way that we can stop the cost of higher education is by not making it so much available for everybody,” said Armendariz-Jackson. “Not everybody should go to college. I know I shouldn’t have gone to college right out of high school ’cause I just wasted time and money.”
As a realtor, she shares that student loan debt affects students in many ways; as not only do they have to pay it back, but outstanding student debt also affects credit and the ability to get a home loan.
Reproductive rights
Armendariz-Jackson believes that government’s role in reproductive rights is to protect a baby from the moment of conception.
“The number one priority of the government, according to the Constitution, is to provide for the welfare of the citizens,” said Armendariz-Jackson. “As tiny as that person is, they are a person and therefore should be protected.”
She adds that anyone not wanting a child should take preventative measures before conception emphasizing that the time to consider options is before pregnancy, not after.
The economy
As recent graduates face challenges finding employment in El Paso, Armendariz-Jackson advocates for job creation. However, she believes this is unlikely to occur under a Democratic administration, emphasizing the need for government spending cuts to facilitate new opportunities.
“We need to cut the spending,” said Armendariz-Jackson. “The government needs to stop the spending. We need to stop sending money to Ukraine. We need to stop illegal immigration because it costs us money and get the economy going.”
Armendariz-Jackson argues that reducing gasoline prices is a necessity as rising fuel costs lead to increased prices across the board.
Immigration and the border
Irene Armendariz-Jackson advocates for strict usage of the legal immigration processes. She believes that those who wish to immigrate should follow the law and get in line, believing that undocumented immigrants undermine opportunities for those who are here legally.
“We’ve always had displaced compassion,” said Armendariz-Jackson. “We’ve always talked about, ‘Oh, these poor DACA students,’ but at some point in their life they realize they were illegally here. If they want to be here legally, start your process, and get in the back of the line.”
She argues that the current immigration laws exist to protect Americans and must be upheld to ensure fairness for all.
Voters will have the opportunity to choose between Escobar and Armendariz-Jackson on Election Day, Nov. 5. For more information, visit epcountyvotes.com.
Ximena Cordero is a staff reporter and may be reached at [email protected]
