Terry Canales is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 40 in the heart of Hidalgo County, including cities such as Edinburg , Elsa, César Chávez, Murillo, La Coma Heights, San Carlos, La Blanca, Linn, Lopezville, and portions of McAllen, Pharr, and San Juan. Elected in 2012 and serving since 2013, he comes from a prominent political family: his father, Terry A. Canales, was the first Hispanic state representative from Jim Wells County , his sister Gabriella "Gabi" Canales served in the Texas House from 2003 to 2005, and he is the sixth family member to serve in the chamber. As an attorney, he opened his own general practice law firm in Edinburg, specializing in oil and gas litigation, criminal defense, personal injury, family law, real estate, and municipal law.

Notable achievements include being the first Latino appointed Chairman of the Texas House Committee on Transportation , and in 2025, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Transportation Funding under Speaker Dustin Burrows, overseeing key funding like the State Highway Fund and Texas Mobility Fund. He has served on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission , authoring the Sunset bill for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice . Canales advocates for transparency and open government, public education, criminal justice reform , and resource efficiency; he currently serves on the Committees on Calendars, Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans’ Affairs.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Passed the Texas State Bar Exam and practices law in Edinburg.
• Political Experience:
  • Texas House of Representatives, District 40 .
  • Chairman, House Committee on Transportation .
  • Chairman, House Subcommittee on Transportation Funding .
  • Member, Texas Sunset Advisory Commission .
  • Committees: Calendars; Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans’ Affairs; Transportation.