Edgardo Baez is a U.S. Army veteran, retired medical professional, lawyer and published author. He’s the lone Republican running in Texas’ 20th Congressional District, currently represented by U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio).
Hear from the candidate
1. Please tell voters about yourself.
My name is Edgardo Rafael Baez. I am 55 years old. I live in San Antonio, TX. I am a former combat medic, airborne paratrooper, Drill Sergeant in the Army and an Intensive Care Unit Nurse.
Over the last 20 years, I have worked as an attorney in San Antonio. I have an Associate of Arts; Bachelor in Business, Masters in Theology, Doctorate in Law, and a Ph.D. degrees.
2. Briefly describe your top policy priorities.
First: Economic Failures!
- There is a High Poverty Level in the district (18.4% to be exact)
- There is economic segregation in the district ($61,570 Median Household Income)
- There is NO growth or support for small businesses (4 restaurant closed within district)
Second: Public Safety Concerns!
- There is a high crime rate in the district (6.95% Violent & 54.05% Property Crimes)
- There is a high homeless population in district (2nd highest homeless pop in Texas)
- There is a high recidivism among youth (25% assessed high risk to reoffend)
Third: Educational Catastrophe!
- Need to improved reading programs (52% students below grade level reading)
- Need to improve Math programs (Only 18% students show proficiency math)
- There are too many schools with an F rating (Edgewood, Judson, Harlandale)
3. What should Congress be doing to rein in inflation and/or stabilize/boost the economy?
First: Target a deficit of 3% of GDP or less by 2030 through spending cuts and revenue measures. This could stabilize debt levels, lower long-term interest rates, and prevent fiscal dominance over the Fed, where high borrowing forces lower rates and risks unanchored inflation expectations.
Second: Reform Social Security and Medicare to address looming insolvencies (e.g., Old Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund depletion by 2033). Options include raising retirement ages, means-testing benefits, or curbing growth in entitlements without tax hikes, which studies show could boost GDP growth by 7-10% long-term by freeing up savings for private investment.
Third: Reject broad fiscal expansions like $2,000 tariff rebate checks, which echo COVID-era stimulus that drove inflation.
4. What should Congress be doing to reform immigration laws?
Congress should prioritize immigration reforms that emphasize border security, interior enforcement, reduced illegal immigration levels, and the protection of American workers and resources, while opposing amnesty or pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The focus is on restoring sovereignty, deterring illegal entries, and ensuring immigration serves national interests without expanding entitlements or chain migration.
5. At a time when the White House is asserting more control over national security and spending without Congress’ input, how would you handle disagreements over the division of power?
National Security Strategy, which prioritizes hemispheric defense under the Monroe Doctrine, emphasizes U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere to counter threats from China and Russia. While some conservatives view this as a necessary assertion of executive authority to protect national interests, others express concern that it oversteps constitutional boundaries, particularly Congress’s role in declaring war and authorizing military actions (Article I, Section 8).
I would support or introduce War Powers Resolutions under the 1973 War Powers Act to require congressional approval for further military actions. I would back bipartisan bills to block specific actions, such as the one introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) barring funds for occupying or annexing Greenland, a NATO ally’s territory. I would use appropriations power to withhold funding for unauthorized operations.
6. The past year has brought tremendous uncertainty to many Americans surrounding rising health insurance premiums and lack of access to medical care near their homes. What do you believe Congress should be doing to make health care affordable and accessible to residents in your state?
Address affordability by reforming health care (e.g., fixing ACA without massive subsidies) that only benefit the big health insurance companies. Open markets is the solution where Americans can pick and choose from a variety of health plans, just as we had prior to the implementation of the ACA.
