During a conversation series at the LBJ School of Public Affairs on Monday, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales emphasized the nationwide mental health crisis and discussed factors he believes will make or break the upcoming election. 

The free series is open to the public and features interviews with political leaders from both parties. Gonzales, a Republican representing Texas’s 23rd District, covering parts of Southwest Texas, sat down with series host Evan Smith, co-founder and former CEO of The Texas Tribune. Gonzales opened the conversation with a declaration for better mental health resources in Texas and nationwide. 

“In rural Texas (mental health facilities) don’t exist,” Gonzales said. “Across the United States, it is the same thing. We have a mental health issue that is only growing.” 

Gonzales said bipartisan cooperation is necessary to address the mental health crisis since it affects citizens regardless of party affiliation.

Gonzales said he met with city officials in Uvalde in 2020 where they asked for mental health resources two years before the Robb Elementary shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers. 

After securing $2 million for the project in 2021, Gonzales attended a ceremony on Oct. 17 to mark the construction of a psychiatric facility in Uvalde. According to a statement released by Gonzales, the 50,000-square-foot Behavioral Health Campus “will connect 32 Texas counties with 24/7 access to professional mental health services.” 

During the discussion, Smith asked Gonzales for his prediction on the presidential race. Gonzales said he does not know who will win but claimed polls showed Donald Trump leading in swing states. 

“Elon Musk is the difference in this election,” Gonzales said. 

Elon Musk’s increased political activity, such as attending more Trump rallies, has changed the trajectory of the Republican party and played a crucial role in mobilizing voters around Trump because his actions tap into a new audience, Gonzales said. 

“(Musk) has added a different layer to this race,” Gonzales said. “If you would have asked me six weeks ago, I would have said, ‘Republicans have less money and less energy, we’re singing the same song and dance to the same people.’ Six weeks later, now all of a sudden, there’s energy (and) there’s resources there.” 

Gonzales said Hispanic voters are the most crucial demographic for both parties. 

“The voter demographic that is going to determine this election is going to be Hispanic Americans,” Gonzales said. “It’s going to be the Hispanic population in Arizona. It’s going to be the Hispanic population in Pennsylvania. It’s going to be the Hispanic population in Nevada.” 

Gonzales suggested the Republican Party uses a door-to-door approach to reach Hispanic voters, a strategy he said he used in his own campaigns. He said the Republican Party should spread a message of positivity and associate itself with safety to draw Hispanic voters. 

“If Republicans do that at scale,” Gonzales said. “Hispanic Americans will vote on the Republican ticket far more than they ever have before, and they may be the difference in this election.”