Before he was a state lawmaker, Armando Martinez was pulling people out of burning buildings and running emergency calls as a Weslaco firefighter and paramedic — and he still holds that license today.
Martinez, born and raised in Weslaco, has represented House District 39 in the Rio Grande Valley since 2005, making him one of the longest-serving members currently in the Texas House. Outside the Capitol he's worked as a critical care flight paramedic and small-business contractor, and in 2025 he earned a law degree from St. Mary's University while still serving in office. He's running for re-election on his record on public education funding, healthcare access, and border-region infrastructure.
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Martinez’s take on Texas values
Martinez was one of the Texas House Democrats who left the state in 2021 to block a vote on a law that added ID requirements and new limits to mail and early voting. [The Hill; Texas Tribune]