Aaron Peña: 'I have no doubt I could win it'

McALLEN — State Rep. Aaron Peña found a friendly crowd Thursday afternoon at the McAllen Tea Party’s last meeting of January, where he told about 70 people that his political future depends almost entirely on the messy product of redistricting — and his wife’s say-so.

“If you can convince the boss, then I’ll run for office,” Peña quipped.

Peña angered many voters and local Democrats by switching parties soon after winning re-election to the Texas House in November 2010. His defection helped Republicans cement a supermajority in the Legislature, which had a far-reaching impact during the session.

Now the Rio Grande Valley’s lone Republican state legislator, Peña announced in November that he wouldn’t seek re-election, citing a federal court’s decision to redraw Texas House districts and eliminate a favorable, conservative district where he’d planned to run. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the lower court had overreached, potentially bringing that map, and Peña, back into play.

“Well, let me just say, I don’t ever have to confront the question until I see a district that conservatives can win, OK?” Peña said. “And as long as the will of the Legislature has a chance to work its way, I have a chance. Then I can confront the boss.”

Still, Peña said he’s exhausted his financial resources over the past decade, when he’s lived on a $7,200 state salary. With his personal finances under pressure, Peña said he can’t match the money Democrats will throw at him.

“The left — when I say ‘left’ I could say ‘the Democrats,’ I’ll just say ‘the left’ — and their trial lawyer financiers have put a $1 million price tag on my head,” Peña said. “They did that a long time ago.”

Despite the likely influx of cash, Peña said he feels confident about running for re-election in the version of District 41 drawn by the Legislature.

“I have no doubt I could win it. I have no doubt — well, OK,” Peña said, “I believe I could win it now.”

Regardless, Peña said he’ll remain involved in local politics.

“I can think of no greater legacy than creating an environment where both parties are forced to compete for our votes down here,” Peña said. “It’s good for everybody. It’s good for Republicans. It’s good for Democrats. It’s good for the politicians involved. It eliminates corruption.”

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Dave Hendricks covers McAllen and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at dhendricks@themonitor.com and (956) 683-4452.

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