About
Currently serving her second term in the Texas House of Representatives, Democratic candidate, Lina Ortega, has been serving the great people of District 77 since 2016.
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Located in the heart of the city, District 77 encompasses some of El Paso's oldest and most historic neighborhoods and landmarks. Spanning from West El Paso, wrapping around the mountain to include the University of Texas at El Paso, most of the city's central part, and a portion of the northeast and Fort Bliss, the second-largest Army installation.
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As a lifelong resident of the district she serves, Lina appreciates the rich culture and vibrancy of the area and understands the value of investing in its revitalization while preserving the historic qualities of the district.
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Lina is a proud alumnus of El Paso High (fondly known as the Lady on the Hill) and went on to attend the University of Texas at El Paso before transferring to the Univerity of Texas at Austin. She graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and a minor in Economics. Driven by her desire to help others, she continued her education and received her Doctorate of Jurisprudence at the University of Texas School of Law.
Early in her career, Lina's work ethic and tenacity to stand up for what is right earned her an outstanding reputation among the legal community. She began as a Texas Assistant Attorney General in the Law Enforcement Division and then became an Assistant Federal Public Defender in El Paso. Lina was recognized as one of the best lawyers in America after her work in the Court of Inquiry where she and her colleagues proved the discriminatory allocation of funding to El Paso and other border communities. After several years of service, she then joined an El Paso law firm and began 30 years of private practice where she was also recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer and as a Preeminent Woman Lawyer.
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Lina served on the board of directors of Family Services of El Paso, was the past president of the Women's Bar Association and the El Paso County Trial Lawyers Association. She was appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to the State Board of Disciplinary Appeals and served as the El Paso County Ethics Commission's chair.
Lina is proud of the work she continues to do, however, nothing will ever exceed. Her loving husband, Mark, currently serves as the head of the Department of History at New Mexico State University. Lina's daughters have followed in the footsteps of their mother, also dedicating their lives to serving their communities, one as a teacher and the other a doctor. She is also the proud grandmother of Augustin, Elias, and the newest addition to the family, little Esmie.
It is my great honor to represent the constituents of House District 77 and to serve all Texans.
Lina Ortega
Mission
To improve the lives of every El Pasoan by improving access to healthcare, making our community a safe place to live, helping ensure that equitable education is provided to all of our children, proudly standing up for equality for all, and supporting a vibrant economy for this community.
Vision
El Paso needs to provide its residents with an overall excellent quality of life. Our families must be able to prosper and provide for their loved ones with good-paying jobs. We need to have clean air and green spaces as well as recreational opportunities. It should be a place that others want to visit for its historical and architectural treasures, its diverse cultural tradition, and its natural beauty.