FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Edinburg mayoral candidate Omar Ochoa and Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at La Taquiza restaurant, 319 Sugar Road in Edinburg. Canales hosted the event to publicly announce his support for Ochoa. Former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina and former Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem Johnny García are also seeking the city’s top municipal office. The election will take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Photograph Courtesy OMAR OCHOA FOR MAYOR FACEBOOK
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Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, endorses Omar Ochoa for Edinburg mayor in ongoing campaign that also features former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina and former Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem Johnny García in seeking city’s top elected office
By DAVID A. DÍAZ [email protected]
Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, has endorsed Omar Ochoa for Edinburg mayor in ongoing political campaign that also features former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina and former Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem Johnny García seeking the city’s top elected office.
“My name is Terry Canales. I’m the state representative for House District 40. It is my great pleasure to have you all here in Edinburg. It’s the 12th-fastest growing city (with populations of 100,000 or more) in the United States, and the reality is when we’re focused on what the goals are – which is our economy, our jobs, making sure the quality of life in Edinburg is the highest possible –we’re doing our job.”
“In order to do that, we need leadership like Omar Ochoa to be at the helm of that boat,” Canales said.
According to the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, which is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg City Council, the city is also the fastest-growing city in the Rio Grande Valley, and ranks 5th in Texas. This growth is reflected in a significant population increase, with more than 106,000 residents and a 2.62 percent increase from 2023 to 2024.
“Thank you for being here, Omar, thank you for putting your name in the hat,” Canales added.
Canales and Ochoa, their families, and their respective supporters were on hand on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at La Taquiza restaurant, 319 Sugar Road in Edinburg, for the gathering, hosted by Canales to publicly announce his support for Ochoa.
“Terry, thank you so much for your endorsement for your endorsement, for your belief and your confidence in me to be your next Edinburg mayor. I was city attorney for more than six years. What does that mean? I advised the city departments all across the board. The only way I could ever give good advice to the city is if I knew every single detail about it,” Ochoa said.
“Six years of doing that, I am ready now to use my knowledge to lead this city in the right direction – the only direction, which is forward. I am ready now to be your next mayor in Edinburg. Thank you so much for coming out today. I really appreciate it,” Ochoa noted.
In addition to mayor, the positions of Edinburg Councilmember Place One and Councilmember Place Two will be on the ballot for the Tuesday, November 4, 2025 election.
City Councilmember Dan Díaz, who was elected to the Edinburg City Council, Place 1, in 2021, is facing a challenge from Ismael Martínez, while Mayor Pro Tem Jason De León, who won his seat to Edinburg City Council, Place 2, also in 2021, is competing against Moisés Segovia.
The terms for the mayor and four city council members each are for four-years.
The Edinburg City Council (mayor and four city council members) holds significant power as the city’s legislative and policy-making body. They enacted local laws (ordinances), adopt budgets, determine policies, set the city tax rate, and hire a city manager.
They also have the authority to investigate municipal affairs and subpoena witnesses. Additionally, the council is responsible for ensuring adequate public facilities, promoting community development, and involving citizens in the planning process.
For his part, Canales earlier this summer announced his bid to seek reelection to a seventh two-year term as state representative for House District 40.
On Friday, July 4, 2025, Canales reaffirmed his commitment to fighting for the Rio Grande Valley and ensuring South Texas has a strong voice in Austin.
“The past year has brought serious challenges — not just in public life, but personally. I’ve faced health issues, and several members of my family have as well. Through it all, I’ve felt the strength of my community and the deep responsibility that comes with public service. That’s why I’m running for re-election,” he said.
Canales, who has served in the Texas House since 2013, reflected on the selflessness that public service demands not only from elected officials but also from their families.
“Serving as a state representative is one of the greatest honors of my life. But it comes with great sacrifice — not just for me, but for my wife and our five beautiful children,” he reflected. “Still, we know this work matters. The Rio Grande Valley is changing. Texas politics is changing. And we need steady, effective leadership more than ever.”
As the first Latino to have chaired the powerful House Committee on Transportation, Canales said he has earned a reputation for bipartisan leadership and delivering results for his district.
His top accomplishments include:
• Expanding infrastructure investment across the Rio Grande Valley and securing long- overdue highway funding;
• Championing water infrastructure and flood mitigation in underserved regions;
• Advocating for fair funding in public education, ensuring rural and South Texas schools aren’t left behind;
• Fighting for access to healthcare and mental health services in low-income communities; and
• Helping pass some of the strongest open government and transparency reforms in the country to make public records more accessible and hold government accountable to the people.
Looking ahead, Canales says there is much more to do in the Texas Legislature.
“We still have families who can’t access clean drinking water. We still have rural communities being left out of broadband and economic opportunity,” he emphasized. “Our teachers are overworked and underpaid. And our health care system is strained and underfunded. The work is far from finished.”
Canales says he will continue to focus on:
• Investing in infrastructure and mobility to meet the needs of a fast-growing Valley;
• Protecting public schools from politicized attacks and funding cuts;
• Ensuring South Texas has a seat at the table in water, energy, and border security debates; and
• Fighting for the rights of working families, small businesses owners, and underserved communities.
“Now more than ever, the Valley deserves leaders who show up, speak up, and deliver. I’m proud of what we’ve done — but I’m even more driven by what we still need to accomplish.”
Canales, D-Edinburg currently serves as Chair, Transportation Funding Subcommittee, and Member of the Committee on Transportation, Calendars, and Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veteran’s Affairs.
Canales represents House District 40 in Hidalgo County, which includes portions of Edinburg, Pharr, Elsa, San Juan, Faysville, La Blanca, Linn, Lópezville, and McAllen.
He may be reached at his House District Office in Edinburg at (956) 383-0860 or at the Capitol at (512) 463-0426.
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For more on this and other Texas legislative news stories that affect the Rio Grande Valley metropolitan region, please log on to Titans of the Texas Legislature (TitansoftheTexasLegislature.com).
