Changes

|office=[[U.S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]' 23rd congressional district from [[San Antonio]] to [[El Paso]]

|office=[[U.S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]' 23rd congressional district from [[San Antonio]] to [[El Paso]]

|term_start=January 3, 2015

|term_start=January 3, 2015

|term_end =  

|term_end=January 2021

|predecessor=Pete Gallego

|predecessor=Pete Gallego

|successor=  

|successor=  

|death_place=  

|death_place=  

|resting_place=

|resting_place=

|party = [[Republican Party|Republican]]

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]

|alma_mater=John Marshall High School<br>

|alma_mater=John Marshall High School<br>

[[Texas A&M University]]

[[Texas A&M University]]

|religion=[[Southern Baptist]]

|religion=[[Southern Baptist]]

}}

}}

'''William Ballard Hurd''', known as '''Will Hurd''' (born August 19, 1977), is an [[African-American]] [[Moderate Republican]]  member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] for [[Texas]]'s sprawling 23rd congressional district, which stretches from western [[San Antonio]] to the eastern side of [[El Paso]]. Now in his second term, Hurd easily won re-nomination to a third term in the March 6, 2018, [[primary]], in which he defeated the more [[conservative]] [[Alma Arredondo-Lynch]], a [[dentist]] who practices in Uvalde west of San Antonio. He then retained his seat by 1,150 votes in the November 6 general election contest against [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gina Ortiz Jones, 102,903 (49.2 percent) to 101.754 (48.7 percent), a favorite of Democratic Leader [[Nancy Pelosi]]. [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Ruben Corvalan held another critical 4,402 votes (2.1 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=November 7, 2018}}</ref>

'''William Ballard Hurd''', known as '''Will Hurd''' (born August 19, 1977), is an [[African-American]] [[Moderate Republican]]  member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] for [[Texas]]'s sprawling 23rd congressional district, which stretches from western [[San Antonio]] to the eastern side of [[El Paso]]. Now in his second term, Hurd easily won re-nomination to a third term in the March 6, 2018, [[primary]], in which he defeated the more [[conservative]] [[Alma Arredondo-Lynch]], a [[dentist]] who practices in Uvalde west of San Antonio. He then retained his seat by 1,150 votes in the November 6 general election contest against [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gina Ortiz Jones, 102,903 (49.2 percent) to 101,754 (48.7 percent), a favorite of Democratic Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]]. [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Ruben Corvalan held another critical 4,402 votes (2.1 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=November 7, 2018}}</ref>

 

 

A son of Robert and Mary Alice Hurd, Will Hurd graduated in 1995 from John Marshall High School  in the San Antonio [[suburb]] of Leon Valley. He then attended [[Texas A&M University]] in College Station (Class of 2000), at which he majored in [[computer science]] and minored in international relations. He was also the TAMU student body president in 1999. Before his election to Congress, Hurd was employed for nine years by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], and served as an operations officer in [[Afghanistan]], [[India]], and [[Pakistan]].

A son of Robert and Mary Alice Hurd, Will Hurd graduated in 1995 from John Marshall High School  in the San Antonio [[suburb]] of Leon Valley. He then attended [[Texas A&M University]] in College Station (Class of 2000), at which he majored in [[computer science]] and minored in international relations. He was also the TAMU student body president in 1999. Before his election to Congress, Hurd was employed for nine years by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], and served as an operations officer in [[Afghanistan]], [[India]], and [[Pakistan]].

Hurd won his seat in 2014 by unseating the one-term Democrat Pete Gallego of Alpine in Brewster County. Hurd held on in a rematch against Gallego in 2016.

Hurd won his seat in 2014 by unseating the one-term Democrat Pete Gallego of Alpine in Brewster County. Hurd held on in a rematch against Gallego in 2016.

He is an intra-party critic of [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]], and he opposed the candidacy of [[Judge]] [[Roy Moore]] in the special election in [[Alabama]] in 2017 to fill the [[U.S. Senate]] seat vacated by former [[Attorney General of the United States|Attorney General]] [[Jeff Sessions]]. He did support the tax cuts enacted in December 2017. He has called for greater bipartisan cooperation between the two parties in Congress and has made a point to be in contact with [[Beto O'Rourke]] of El Paso, the Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged the second-term reelection bid of [[U.S. Senator]] [[Ted Cruz]]. In 2017, Hurd and O'Rourke attracted attention when they drove together from Texas to Washington, D.C., for the resumption of House business following a recess.

He is an intra-party critic of [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]], and he opposed the candidacy of [[Judge]] [[Roy Moore]] in the special election in [[Alabama]] in 2017 to fill the [[U.S. Senate]] seat vacated by former [[Attorney General of the United States|Attorney General]] [[Jeff Sessions]]. He did support the tax cuts enacted in December 2017. He has called for greater bipartisan cooperation between the two parties in Congress and has made a point to be in contact with [[Beto O'Rourke]] of El Paso, the Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged the second-term reelection bid of [[U.S. Senator]] [[Ted Cruz]]. In 2017, Hurd and O'Rourke attracted attention when they drove together from Texas to Washington, D.C., for the resumption of House business following a recess.

Hurd, a former CIA operative, is a leading voice on national security, speaking with conviction and nuance that puts his district first. He has opposed a border wall and proposed legislation to provide legal residency to 'Dreamers', add 165 immigration judges, and boost border security. That legislation has gained widespread bipartisan support.<br>

Hurd, a former CIA operative, is a leading voice on national security, speaking with conviction and nuance that puts his district first. He has opposed a border wall and proposed legislation to provide legal residency to 'Dreamers', add 165 immigration judges, and boost border security. That legislation has gained widespread bipartisan support.<br>

What makes Hurd unique, though, is his ability to keep his distance from extremes while maintaining his conservative credentials. He did not endorse President Donald Trump and broke with the administration, on the wall and health care, for example. But he also championed tax cuts. In other words, he is conservative and genuinely and frequently aligns with Republican interests, but he is also a model for bipartisan compromise and governance.<ref name=saen>Susan Pope, publisher: "Ortiz Jones, Hurd in 23rd District, ''San Antonio Express-News'', February 17, 2018, p. A16.</ref></blockquote>

What makes Hurd unique, though, is his ability to keep his distance from extremes while maintaining his conservative credentials. He did not endorse President Donald Trump and broke with the administration, on the wall and health care, for example. But he also championed tax cuts. In other words, he is conservative and genuinely and frequently aligns with Republican interests, but he is also a model for bipartisan compromise and governance.<ref name=saen>Susan Pope, publisher: "Ortiz Jones, Hurd in 23rd District, ''San Antonio Express-News,'' February 17, 2018, p. A16.</ref></blockquote>

Hurd polled 24,843 votes (81.2 percent) in the March 6 primary to Arredondo-Lynch's 11,997 (19.7 percent)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm?x=0&y=1394&id=142|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> In her energetic but under-fundecd campaign, Arredondo-Lynch barely ran ahead of Hurd's 2016 primary opponent, William "Hart" Peterson, who drew 17.8 percent of the primary tabulation that year.

Hurd polled 24,843 votes (81.2 percent) in the March 6 primary to Arredondo-Lynch's 11,997 (19.7 percent)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm?x=0&y=1394&id=142|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> In her energetic but under-fundecd campaign, Arredondo-Lynch barely ran ahead of Hurd's 2016 primary opponent, William "Hart" Peterson, who drew 17.8 percent of the primary tabulation that year.

After his nomination for a third term, Hurd unveiled his plan to reform the [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]] program. Hurd vowed to bring various proposals for immigration reform to the House floor without approval of the leadership though House Speaker [[Paul Ryan]] since agreed to roll calls on two immigration measures. Hurd said that his immigration package includes "a smart wall" which uses radar and fiber optics, rather than the brick-and-mortar structure envisioned by President Trump. Meanwhile, Trump signaled opposition to a Senate bill that corresponds with some of Hurd's immigration proposals.<ref name=dacafix>Jasper Scherer, "Congressman talks up a way for his DACA fix to pass House, ''The San Antonio Express-News'', March 30, 2018, p. A3, A5.</ref> He is pushing for a discharge petition to submit four immigration bills to the full House even though they have not cleared committees.

After his nomination for a third term, Hurd unveiled his plan to reform the [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]] program. Hurd vowed to bring various proposals for immigration reform to the House floor without approval of the leadership though House Speaker [[Paul Ryan]] since agreed to roll calls on two immigration measures. Hurd said that his immigration package includes "a smart wall" which uses radar and fiber optics, rather than the brick-and-mortar structure envisioned by President Trump. Meanwhile, Trump signaled opposition to a Senate bill that corresponds with some of Hurd's immigration proposals.<ref name=dacafix>Jasper Scherer, "Congressman talks up a way for his DACA fix to pass House, ''The San Antonio Express-News'', March 30, 2018, p. A3, A5.</ref> He is pushing for a discharge petition to submit four immigration bills to the full House even though they have not cleared committees.

Hurd and [[Mia Love]], another Moderate Republican from [[Utah]]'s 4th congressional district, were the only two African-American Republican members of the House. Then Love narrowly lost her reelection bid on November 6, 2018.

Hurd and [[Mia Love]], another Moderate Republican from [[Utah]]'s 4th congressional district, were the only two African-American Republican members of the House. Then Love narrowly lost her reelection bid on November 6, 2018. And now Hurd is stepping down.

In the session of Congress that began in 2019, Hurd remained a steadfast intra-party critic of President Trump. In July, he was one of four Republicans who voted to condemn Trump's tweets about four Islamic members of Congress known for their fervent anti-American radicalism.

In the session of Congress that began in 2019, Hurd remained a steadfast intra-party critic of President Trump. In July, he was one of four Republicans who voted to condemn Trump's tweets about four Islamic members of Congress known for their fervent anti-American radicalism.