This month’s spotlight is Abel Mulugheta, Candidate for the United States Congress (TX-30). Read on to learn more about Abel, his path to running for political office, and his plans for serving his community.
Could you briefly explain some of your responsibilities in your current career role?
Prior to running for office I served as General Counsel, Legislative Director, and Chief of Staff to State Rep. Rafael Anchía (D-TX). In these roles, I oversaw day-to-day operations in Chairman Anchía’s office and led efforts to pass a number of legislative efforts that benefited the constituents of Rep. Anchía’s district. Most recently, I worked on two pivotal pieces of legislation that passed through the legislature: (1) the Richard Miles Act, which requires police agencies to verify they turned over all evidence when filing cases with prosecutors, and (2) legislation to provide a $300 million capital-investment for Fair Park in Dallas.
What inspired you to run for Congress?
As the son of Eritrean refugees, I witnessed how a couple with limited resources, but hard work ethic, could provide unlimited potential to their three children. But right now those opportunities that I was blessed with are too far out of reach for too many, no matter how hard they work. That’s why I have dedicated my entire adult life to serving the people of District 30—as a Congressional Aide to Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, or as Chief of Staff to Rep. Rafael Anchía.
My parents arrived in Dallas with nothing more than big dreams and their suitcases. I watched them maneuver in a society that oftentimes was difficult for them to navigate. However, this community poured so much into me and my family, allowing my family the opportunities to advance into the middle class. I’m running because I have a deep rooted passion to serve and give back to the community that invested in me. I believe everyone deserves a life full of dignity, prosperity and equity—regardless of what they look like, how much money they have, or whom they love. I’m running to make this a reality.
What are your highest priorities for Texas and the nation?
My highest priorities would be increasing access to healthcare; increasing economic opportunity and job creation in District 30; and passing voting rights legislation that combats voter suppression we are seeing enacted in state legislatures across the country.
District 30 has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country. As a result, one of the biggest challenges facing the district is expanding insurance coverage for those who are not currently covered. Over 200,000 individuals, or nearly 1 out of every 4 people in District 30 do not have health insurance coverage, which is double the national rate. This is unacceptable and in Congress I’ll support legislation that addresses this. Build Back Better, which I support, would provide people below the poverty line who are not eligible for Medicaid with premium tax credits that can be used to affordable access to healthcare on the marketplace.
On economic opportunity, District 30 has been ignored while other parts of Dallas have seen massive investment that have provided jobs and had a positive economic impact. I’ll support job-training programs that will give my neighbors in District 30 the skills they need to get high-paying jobs that can support themselves and their families. I’ll also work hard to ensure that District 30 receives a substantial portion of the federal funds Texas is set to receive from the recent infrastructure bill that passed. These projects that upgrade our infrastructure will bring a positive economic impact and jobs to District 30.
Finally, as John Lewis said, the right to vote is sacred, it is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a Democratic society. That’s why I support the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act, both of which would expand and protect the freedom to vote. As a result of Shelby County v. Holder, state legislatures across this country are chipping away at our sacred freedom to vote. We must reinstate Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Without it, states are given carte blanche to pass legislation intended at discriminating against and disenfranching millions of voters across the country.
Assuming your victory, choose a single issue you would prioritize in the coming term – name it and describe what you want to accomplish.
As I previously mentioned, District 30 has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country. In Congress, I will work to better the lives of our community by working to guarantee uninsured residents in District 30 gain access to affordable healthcare. This lack of coverage is a result of Republicans in the Texas Legislature who refuse to expand Medicaid. As a result, thousands of my neighbors here in District 30 fall into what is called the coverage gap, meaning they have incomes that are above Texas’ eligibility for Medicaid, but below the poverty line. I’ll work to pass legislation that closes this gap and provides healthcare options to my neighbors in District 30. The Build Back Better Act, which I strongly support, is an important piece of legislation that can help us close the coverage gap. This measure would provide people below the poverty line who are not eligible for Medicaid with premium tax credits that can be used to affordable access to healthcare on the marketplace. In addition, I would also support Representative Lloyd Dogget’s Cover Now Act, which allows municipalities to work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand Medicaid coverage.
What challenges have you faced and overcome in your campaign thus far?
Our biggest challenge is breaking through the nine-candidate pack. When you have a crowded field in a given race, it can be difficult to differentiate yourself from the noise since voters are inundated with communication from you and eight other candidates. The way we solve for this is by running a robust paid field and communication program to ensure that our message reaches voters in a variety of different ways.
What have you enjoyed most about your campaign?
The part of campaigning I enjoy the most is meeting my neighbors, talking to them about the issues they care about the most, and learning how they think Congress can improve their lives. These personal connections and conversations are the reasons why I decided to run for office. It’s important when running a campaign that you take time to build personal relationships with the people you are hoping to represent, which is why I make it a point to knock on the doors of voters and have these conversations each and every day.
What sets you apart from other Candidates running for Congress?
I have both the lived experience that allows me to relate to the struggles of my neighbors and the professional experience needed to effectively develop solutions to their problems. I’m one of a few candidates that can say they were born and raised in the district and spent my entire adult life living in the district. Growing up in Pleasant Grove, I witnessed firsthand that it often did not matter how hard you worked to provide better outcomes for your families, a lack of economic opportunity, a poor school system, and your zip code determined your outcome.
However, I was fortunate enough to be provided an infrastructure of opportunity that positioned me to graduate from college and law school, all the while working within and for my community. I will utilize what I’ve learned working for both the federal and state governments, to serve the people of District 30. If elected, my neighbors can be assured that their representative does not just have the experience needed to address the problems they are facing, but the lived experience to know the urgency of solving those problems.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in running for political office?
Go for it. You don’t ever want to look back years from now and wonder, “what if” or “how would things be different if I had run?” If you believe that you can have a positive impact on your community and improve the lives of your neighbors, get in the arena!
How have your priorities changed from when you first started?
As far as our campaign’s values, those have stayed the same since we launched the campaign. We are running on a platform that seeks to bring economic opportunity, increase access to healthcare, and protect the freedom to vote. That will never change. When it comes to operational priorities, those change as you get closer and closer to election day. When we first started, we were focused on introducing our campaign to the residents of District 30 and persuading them to support our campaign. As we get closer to Election Day our priorities shift. We are still persuading people, but we also begin to focus on ensuring that our supporters have a plan to vote and make it to the polls.
Outside of all of your hard work and efforts toward building your brand, what do you do for fun? Hobbies?
Unfortunately, I rarely have time for fun, but when I do get a break from the campaign I love to spend time with friends and play tennis and golf.