The Political Science Association hosted a meet and greet with Jessica Cisneros last Tuesday at the water fountain in front of the Student Academic Center in Edinburg.
Cisneros, a 26-year-old Democrat, is running to represent Texas’ 28th district in Congress. She is a human rights lawyer who is competing against the Democrat Congressman Henry Cuellar.
She spoke about her early beginnings and how coming from an immigrant family affected her.
“I think that the most revolutionary part about this campaign is that I’m able to bring in my personal experience of being born and raised in this district and use that for the betterment of our people,” Cisneros said.
She is fighting to lower prescription drug prices and make health care a right through Medicare for All. She is also against the building of the border wall, and for a $15 minimum wage and tuition-free public colleges and trade schools.
Asked what changes she would make if elected, she replied, “I think one of the biggest [changes] that I am fighting for is making sure that we’re taking money out of politics … because a lot of the issues … whether it be health care, immigration, education, jobs, right, all of those come back to that one issue of money in politics.”
Monica Garcia, Political Science Association vice president and political science senior, said she hopes that by bringing Cisneros to UTRGV, students will become more politically involved.
“We wanted her to come and speak to the students, to help them become engaged in politics,” Garcia said. “We think that with her speaking directly to the students, she can empower them to … have civic engagement and just empower them to be politically active within their community.”
Cisneros comes from an immigrant Mexican family. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and a law degree with a specialization in immigration law from the University of Texas School of Law. She has received multiple awards such as the Texas Law Fellowship Excellence in Public Interest Award and the Pro Bono Award.
Her background has piqued the interest of UTRGV students.
Tyler Smith, a political science graduate student, said that he is interested in Cisneros’ campaign and is encouraging university students to vote and get involved in politics.
“It’s great to see a candidate that’s very young and from the area,” Smith said. “They are deciding and changing policies on the student loan process. Students here have a lot of opportunities to make an impact but if they are not heard or if they don’t participate, their ideas may get lost.”
To learn more about Jessica Cisneros and her campaign, visit https://www.sicacisnerosforcongress.com.
