El Paso Democrats and House members Art Fierro and Claudia Ordaz Perez are the only two state representatives running against each other in the March primary election, a fallout from the redistricting process in which El Paso’s representation in the Texas House decreased to four.

Ordaz Perez’s District 76 seat was drawn into House District 77, which is represented by state Rep. Lina Ortega, D-El Paso. Both women were the last of their El Paso House colleagues to return to the House floor after Democrats’ summer quorum break over a Republican elections bill. That bill ultimately passed.

Ordaz Perez moved to District 79 to challenge Fierro, who has held the East Side seat since early 2019.

El Paso Matters partnered with PBS El Paso to host a forum with Fierro and Ordaz Perez. The candidates spoke about why El Paso lost a House seat, what they accomplished for El Pasoans during the last legislative session and their legislative priorities if reelected.

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Molly Smith has been a reporter for the El Paso Times and The (McAllen) Monitor. She’s covered education, criminal justice and local government. A Seattle native, she’s lived in Texas since 2014.