ABOUT DENISE

A local engineer. A proven leader.

Denise Villalobos was born and raised in Corpus Christi. She grew up economically disadvantaged, but that did not stop her from living her American Dream.

Denise attended Tuloso-Midway from Pre-K through high school graduation, then earned a chemical engineering degree from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Texas Tech University.

Denise Villalobos campaign website

Born and raised in Corpus Christi
Tuloso-Midway, Pre-K through graduation
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M Kingsville, Magna Cum Laude
MBA, Texas Tech University
Oil and gas engineer and project manager
Tuloso-Midway School Board
Elected State Representative, HD 34
Wife to Ruben, mom to Ezekiel
"Denise and Ruben became foster parents in 2023 and adopted their son Ezekiel, an experience that shapes her commitment to protecting vulnerable children."

Denise Villalobos was born and raised in Corpus Christi. She earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Tech University. She is married to Ruben and is the mother of Ezekiel.

Denise Villalobos works as an oil and gas engineer and project manager.

Biographical Information
House District: 34 (Corpus Christi)
First Elected: 2025
Occupation: Engineer

State Rep. Denise Villalobos

Denise was first elected in 2025 to represent Texas House District 34.

State Rep. Denise Villalobos - Texas Policy Research

2026 Texas General Election

A working engineer defending oil and gas, agriculture, aquaculture, shipping, and small business.
Championed career training and apprenticeship programs so young people can build their future here.
Supported workers and retirees through unemployment compensation (HB 2760).
Recognized as an Associated Builders and Contractors Legislative Champion.

Jobs and Energy: Defending Our Economy

Denise grew up in a working family in Nueces County and works as an oil and gas engineer. She knows what it means when opportunity feels out of reach.

A working engineer defending oil and gas, agriculture, aquaculture, shipping, and small business.
Championed career training and apprenticeship programs so young people can build their future here.
Supported workers and retirees through unemployment compensation (HB 2760).

### Other than the issues previously addressed, what are your top three priorities, and, if elected, how would you address them?
1. A short term water solution is needed to get us out of the current crisis, but we also need to focus on a LONG TERM water solution that will keep us from reliving this emergency next time drought hits. Diversification of our water supply is extremely important & that the state helps financially. 2. Corpus Christi is one of the most vital economic hubs in Texas, and we must keep it growing.
Building a strong skilled work force and creating more job opportunities is crucial to break the poverty cycles in our community. 3. HB2 brought home $90 Million directly to public schools in HD34. Those funds went to teacher raises, early literacy, special education, & CTE. This is great, but more needs to be done in terms of school finance.

Texas State Representative District 34 — VOTE411 Voter Guide. Additional information available on VOTE411.org.

Families and Cost of Living

Lower costs, stronger schools, and steady constituent service.

Fighting to lower the cost of living and deliver lasting property tax relief for Coastal Bend families.
Named a Housing Champion by Texans for Housing for the 89th Session.
A Charter School Champion focused on quality education and good jobs at home.
Named the 2026 Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Community Partner of the Year.

Supported House Bill (HB) 2760 concerning unemployment compensation for workers and retirees.

Advocates for career training, apprenticeships, a skilled workforce, and job creation in the Coastal Bend.

Advocates for lowering living costs and providing lasting property-tax relief for Coastal Bend families.

- Supported House Bill (HB) 2760 concerning unemployment compensation for workers and retirees.
- Advocates for career training, apprenticeships, a skilled workforce, and job creation in the Coastal Bend.
- Advocates for lowering living costs and providing lasting property-tax relief for Coastal Bend families.

Economy

Wrote and passed HB 2306, which passed the Texas House unanimously and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. Child traffickers in Texas now serve every day of their sentence with no parole.
The law also protects disabled Texans and took effect September 1, 2025.
Strengthened protections for foster children with DNA-related safeguards (HB 4377 and HB 5149).
Passed HB 3161, backed by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), allowing cities to boost retirement contributions for police officers and strengthen their pensions.

As a foster parent, Villalobos said she wants to protect the privacy of foster children and prospective adoptive families. “There’s a requirement to list every weapon in your home with serial numbers—that’s an invasion of privacy,” she said. “Additionally, during our foster process, DNA was run without permission. I’m working on legislation to prevent these overreaches.”

Meet the Freshmen: Denise Villalobos

Public Safety: Protecting Our Children

As a foster and adoptive mom, protecting vulnerable kids is personal to Denise, not political.

Wrote and passed HB 2306, which passed the Texas House unanimously and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. Child traffickers in Texas now serve every day of their sentence with no parole.
The law also protects disabled Texans and took effect September 1, 2025.
Strengthened protections for foster children with DNA-related safeguards (HB 4377 and HB 5149).
Passed HB 3161, backed by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), allowing cities to boost retirement contributions for police officers and strengthen their pensions.

Strengthened protections for foster children with DNA-related safeguards (HB 4377 and HB 5149).
Passed HB 3161, backed by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), allowing cities to boost retirement contributions for police officers and strengthen their pensions.
See more

Passed House Bills (HB) 4377 and 5149 to strengthen DNA-related safeguards for foster children.

Plans legislation to prevent mandatory firearm-serial-number disclosures and nonconsensual DNA testing in foster-care and adoptive-family processes.

Passed House Bill (HB) 2306, requiring people convicted of child trafficking to serve their full sentences without parole.

Passed House Bill (HB) 3161, allowing cities to increase retirement contributions for police officers.

- Passed House Bills (HB) 4377 and 5149 to strengthen DNA-related safeguards for foster children.
- Plans legislation to prevent mandatory firearm-serial-number disclosures and nonconsensual DNA testing in foster-care and adoptive-family processes.
- Passed House Bill (HB) 2306, requiring people convicted of child trafficking to serve their full sentences without parole.
- Passed House Bill (HB) 3161, allowing cities to increase retirement contributions for police officers.

Public Safety

As of July 22, 2026, Denise Villalobos’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Calls for additional school-finance measures beyond House Bill (HB) 2 funding for teacher raises, early literacy, special education, and career and technical education.

- Calls for additional school-finance measures beyond House Bill (HB) 2 funding for teacher raises, early literacy, special education, and career and technical education.

Education

Villalobos’s background in the oil and gas industry also drives her commitment to supporting Corpus Christi’s critical role in powering Texas and the nation. “We’re in stage three drought, and our refineries are major economic drivers,” she said. “Current drought regulations are too lenient for a city like Corpus. We’re also focused on limiting federal environmental overreach and ensuring Texas industries remain competitive.”

### During your campaign, what is the number one concern expressed to you by residents? What is your response to this concern?
The number one issue expressed by my constituents is WATER. We are now in year 5 of drought and the Coastal Bend is in a true water crisis! In November 2026 we will hit Emergency Level 1 and that is when major water curtailments will begin. It will affect everyone from residential to commercial to industry. The Port of Corpus Christi is the economic engine for our region, state, and nation. Problems that effect our energy industry here have global impacts from jet fuel in DFW to LNG in the Netherlands.
During session I was able to bring $46 Million back home to implement several emergency water projects. This funded directly pushed back curtailment from August of 2025 to November 2026. I have not stopped working on the water issue.

Said Corpus Christi needs stricter drought regulations and called for limiting federal environmental regulation of Texas industries.

Calls for state-funded diversification of the water supply and long-term solutions to drought.

As a state representative, said she secured $46 million for emergency water projects that delayed projected water curtailments.

- Said Corpus Christi needs stricter drought regulations and called for limiting federal environmental regulation of Texas industries.
- Calls for state-funded diversification of the water supply and long-term solutions to drought.
- As a state representative, said she secured $46 million for emergency water projects that delayed projected water curtailments.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

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Denise Villalobos

- Advocates for career training, apprenticeships, a skilled workforce, and job creation in the Coastal Bend.
- Advocates for lowering living costs and providing lasting property-tax relief for Coastal Bend families.

- Passed House Bill (HB) 2306, requiring people convicted of child trafficking to serve their full sentences without parole.
- Passed House Bill (HB) 3161, allowing cities to increase retirement contributions for police officers.

- Calls for state-funded diversification of the water supply and long-term solutions to drought.
- As a state representative, said she secured $46 million for emergency water projects that delayed projected water curtailments.

Denise Villalobos is from Corpus Christi, Texas. She and her husband, Ruben, have a son, Ezekiel.

Meet the Freshmen: Denise Villalobos - Texas Scorecard

Denise is a Texas state representative. Denise and her husband, Ruben, became foster parents in 2023 and adopted their son, Ezekiel.

Denise is currently a Texas state representative for House District 34. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

For Candidate Denise Villalobos on Issue economy:  
Supports lowering the cost of living and providing lasting property tax relief for Coastal Bend families.

Supports local jobs, energy production, and workforce training programs.

As a state legislator, wrote and passed HB 2306, ensuring that child traffickers in Texas serve their full sentences with no possibility of parole.

Supports strengthened protections for foster children through DNA-related safeguards.

Supports allowing cities to boost retirement contributions for police officers and strengthen their pensions.

Supports quality education and advocates for charter schools.

For Candidate Denise Villalobos on Issue energy-and-environment:  
Wants to end the decades-old reservoir release agreement that drains local water supply.

Sponsored legislation to improve the efficiency of the Texas Water Development Board.

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- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives.