Etienne Rosas

Etienne Rosas was born in Brownsville, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2007, a graduate degree from the American Graduate School in Paris in 2012, and a Ph.D. from Pardee RAND Graduate School in 2020. Rosas' career experience includes working as a researcher, academic, and musician. As of 2025, he was affiliated with the Rio Grande Research Group.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a proud 1st generation Mexican-American, born in Brownsville, Texas and raised in both sides of the border. I’m a public policy expert, a working musician, and a democratic socialist candidate for U.S. Congress in Texas’s 34th district. I’m running to fight for the dignity of working-class people and immigrants in South Texas and to challenge the corporate capture of our political system.

I hold a PhD in public policy from the RAND Corporation and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton, where I specialized in democratic decline and institutional corruption. I believe we are at a major political crossroads as a country and the Rio Grande Valley will play a pivotal role in the national struggle to take back our democracy from the hands of the oligarchs who have corrupted it. That begins with reflecting our people's true voice and I intend to be that voice.

Beyond my academic work, I’ve spent the last decade touring both the U.S. and Mexico with my band, The Revies, singing songs about border life, struggle, and hope. I’ve been part of artistic and researcher communities that fight back against gerrymandering, immigrant abuse, union-busting, militarization, and environmental exploitation in our region.

I’m not a career politician—I’m part of a generation that’s done waiting for Washington to save us. I’m stepping up because we need leaders who aren’t afraid to name what’s broken—and who are ready to build something better.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The border is not a war zone, it is a way of life. Militarization of our border has stifled our economy and our historic cultural connection to Mexican communities. ICE has terrorized our citizens and violated our human rights - it must be abolished. We must protect immigrants and asylum seekers and overhaul our immigration system to create sensible avenues towards citizenship. We must extend cooperation with our southern neighbors that is not centered on enforcement or militarization, but on mediation, trust, and social resilience.We must implement universal healthcare and childcare. We are the only developed country in the world to not provide these key services to our citizens. Yet, we spend more per capital on healthcare than any other country in the world and have worse outcomes. The RGV is one of the most medically underserved and uninsured regions in the US. These universal programs would not only lead to better social outcomes for society as a whole, but they would disproportionately benefit our region create a boom of sustainable economic growth.Our policy ideas cannot be sustained if we do not take back our democracy from the forces that have undermined it. This is not merely about wealth, but about power. And in order to restore power to the people, we need to focus on the three R's: regulation, redistribution, and representation. Corporations must be regulated and monopolies dismantled. Billionaires must be taxed to curb their influence and funds must be applied towards universal programs that stimulate bottom-up and middle-out growth. The people must regain representation within their political system - this means getting money out of politics, expanding voting rights and access, protecting worker unions, and abolishing undemocratic structures like the Electoral College.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am an expert in organized crime and terrorism. I want to put an end to the destructive war on drugs and usher in a new paradigm for combatting both cartel violence and drug use.

As a musician and an artist, I am also passionate about taking on the giant monopolies and gatekeepers that exploit artists everywhere and disrupt their development.

Last but not least, I believe climate change is the central issue of our time. We need to enact a Green New Deal as soon as possible that prepares us for coming shocks, develops new green technologies, and restores our fragile ecosystems. Rather than pump billions into militarization or billionaire space projects, our new moonshot must be the restoration of our own planet.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Bernie Sanders. I may not fully agree with all of his positions, but he has been incredibly persistent in opening America's political consciousness. Most people remember 2016 as the year Trump came into office and changed the world. I prefer to remember it as the year that Bernie Sanders emerged as the voice of the political future of America. I truly admire his dedication and perseverance in the face of these challenging odds.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

There are several books that have deeply shaped by political perspective: "People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn, "Neoliberalism" by David Harvey, "The Beginning of Infinity" by David Deutsch, "The Dawn of Everything" by David Graber and David Wengrow, to name a few!

I am also a big fan of the works of Bertrand Russell, Noam Chomsky, and Naomi Klein.

And of course, music has also been a huge outlet for my political animus. My favorite artists are The Beatles, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, Incubus, Chris Cornell, among so many others.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A genuine desire to improve the lives of the people you represent and creating conditions that lead to a more just and harmonious society. This often means placing your needs after your sacred responsibility to the people. It means staying humble, empathetic, and open to new ideas and solutions.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Whether it is with music, cooking, or traveling, I enjoy life vicariously through the happiness of others. I don't want to have opportunities for just my own growth and fulfillment, I want others to have them as well. And with a bit of creativity and a lot of persistence, I believe it is well within our reach as a society to provide everyone with plenty of opportunities for their own life fulfillment.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Primarily, to listen. Democracy only works if there is information flowing up the system. I can never fully understand what it is like to be a woman, or a person in the LGBTQ community, or a farmer, or you - the only way I can represent all people within my constituency is to listen to their experience and work to incorporate it into my decision making process.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was living in Monterrey, Mexico for a couple of years in elementary and I delivered groceries from the corner store. I worked there for a summer so it was hot, but I also made lifelong friends there and got my first taste of independence.

What is your favorite book? Why?

1984 by George Orwell. It was the first time I read something so politically provocative. I felt like it touched a nerve and I couldn't put it down.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Doin Time by Sublime

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I think term limits are a healthy way to ensure renewal and flexibility of structures and ideas. These are hallmarks of a healthy democracy. When power becomes too entrenched, it becomes more difficult for new paradigms to shine through. In our rapidly evolving world, we must create conditions to allow new ideas and people to continuously reinvent our political landscape.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

There are many, but recently, seeing honest, hard-working, family-devoted, undocumented men hold back their tears as they spoke about how they feel afraid to go buy groceries or take out money from the bank to feed their families was devastating. People like these men have been an integral part in building our communities in the Rio Grande Valley. They are part of its story and its spirit. And they are now being criminalized and terrorized by armed, masked individuals who had never set foot in our towns before. Yet, our people continue building and contributing showing tremendous resilience and courage. Their display of fortitude makes me feel incredibly honored to have them as fellow members of the RGV community.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Trust between constituents and the government is a key condition for democracy. I believe that the only way we can develop trust is by expanding transparency and accountability as much as possible. This not only deters officials from serving private interests rather than their constituents, but it allows citizens to engage directly in healthy criticism of their government.