Gallego, Pete P. (Pete Peña), 1961-

Pete Peña Gallego (born December 2, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district from 2013 to 2015.

Born in Alpine, Texas, he graduated from Alpine High School in 1980, and then earned a B.A. from Sul Ross State University in Alpine in 1982. In 1985, Gallego earned a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985, and then worked in the office of the Texas state attorney general. He entered private practice in 1990, the year he won election to the Texas state house of representatives. As a freshman lawmaker, Democrats chose him to lead their caucus; he held that position with distinction through a decade of Republican control of the chamber. In 2001 Gallego became head of the legislature’s Mexican-American caucus. He focused on issues of ethics and criminal justice. Colleagues referred to him as a “member’s member” and praised his quiet, approachable style which appealed to both parties.

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