GET TO KNOW ME

My name is Eric Holguín, and I’m proud to be born and raised in a working-class family in South Texas. I graduated from Sharyland High School in Mission, earned my undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, and went on to receive my Master of Public Affairs (public policy) from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Public service runs deep in my family. My father is a retired teacher and football coach, and my mother retired from a career in nursing. I also come from a proud law enforcement family: one of my brothers serves with the Texas Department of Public Safety, another is a U.S. Capitol Police Officer, and my late grandfather served for many years as a Justice of the Peace in Jim Hogg County. My younger sister is working her way up in life, continuing that legacy of perseverance and service.

There was one cardinal priority in my family - education. I signed up for Pell Grants, federal student loans, parent-student loans, and worked various jobs to earn both of my college degrees. Completing those years of higher education gave me the key to opportunity in this country, and it’s why I believe so strongly that every Texan deserves the same chance to succeed.

One of the most defining experiences of my career was working with veterans and their families on the fight for healthcare. Working with Burn Pits 360 Veterans Organization, I was part of the team that helped pass the 2022 Honoring Our PACT Act - the largest expansion of veterans’ healthcare in 45 years. Because of that work, more than 3 million veterans nationwide, including thousands here in South Texas, now have access to the care they were long denied. That fight taught me that persistence, coalition-building, and never backing down can deliver life-changing results.

From working for a U.S. Congresswoman and the New York City Comptroller to years spent listening to and serving communities across Texas, I’ve fought for policies that support veterans, strengthen education, expand housing, uplift seniors, grow small businesses, improve healthcare, address homelessness, and protect LGBTQ rights.

My family wasn’t wealthy, but we were determined to succeed. In today’s economy, we have to work harder than ever to ensure that everyone has a fair shot at opportunity - and that’s the fight I’ve dedicated my life to.