Don McLaughlin ** represents **Texas House District 80, which includes counties such as Atascosa, Dimmit, Frio, Uvalde, part of Webb, and Zavala. Born on September 20, 1961 , he is a resident of Uvalde and a successful small business owner in sales with over 100 employees. Elected in November 2024 as the first Republican to represent HD 80 since it was drawn into South Texas, he serves on the Agriculture & Livestock and Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans’ Affairs committees. Notable achievements include serving nearly a decade as Mayor of Uvalde, leading the city through crises like winter storms, immigration surges, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2022 Robb Elementary shooting; he strengthened law enforcement and initiated a mental health hospital that broke ground in 2024. He has earned endorsements from President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott, and is recognized as an effective freshman legislator.

Education and Political Experience

Limited public details are available on formal education. Politically, McLaughlin served as Mayor of Uvalde for nearly a decade before his election to the Texas House in 2024 . His experience includes hands-on leadership in economic development, job creation, public safety, and crisis management as a small business owner and mayor. He currently holds Capitol and district offices in Austin and Laredo, respectively.