Ryan Guillen
| Ryan Anthony Guillen | |
 | |
Texas State Representative
for District 31 | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Judy Hawley |
|---|---|
| Born | October 27, 1977 College Station, Texas |
| Nationality | Hispanic American |
| Political party | Democrat-turned-Republican (2021) |
| Spouse(s) | Dalinda L. Guillen |
| Children | Two children |
| Residence | Rio Grande City, Starr County |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University |
| Occupation | Rancher, educator, and small businessman |
Ryan Anthony Guillen (born October 27, 1977) has been since 2003 the state representative for Texas House District 31, which encompasses his own Starr County as well as Atascosa, Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, LaSalle, Live Oak, McMullen, and Willacy counties. He was elected as a Democrat while in his early twenties in 2002, but on November 15, 2021, he switched affiliation to the Republican Party.[1]
Guillen [2] was born in College Station, Texas, where Texas A&M University is located. His parents attended TAMU and returned to their home town of Rio Grande City, where he was reared. He attended school there with his future wife, Dalinda, who is two weeks older than her husband. Like his parents, Guillen graduated from TAMU. He is a rancher, former educator, and small businessman in Starr County.
In his first election in 2002, he defeated two other Democrats in the primary and went on to will the runoff election and was unopposed in the general election. Since his initial election, Guillen has rarely faced serious challengers for his House seat. In 2012, he defeated Republican Ann Matthews, a small business owner and single mother from Charlotte in Atascosa County,[3] in the general election, 27,856 votes (66 percent) to 14,163 (34 percent).[4]
References
- ↑ State Rep. Ryan Guillen switches to GOP in latest blow to South Texas Democrats. The Texas Tribune (November 15, 2021). Retrieved on November 16, 2021.
- ↑ Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Member profile. Retrieved on November 16, 2021.
- ↑ Ann Matthews announces campaign for Texas House of Representatives | Pleasanton Express, accessed November 16, 2021.
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, General election returns, November 6, 2012.
