Rep. Anchía, Rafael
Biography
State Representative Rafael Anchía is currently serving his tenth term in the Texas Legislature and represents a western corridor of Dallas County, which includes the cities of Dallas, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and Irving. Rep. Anchía currently serves on the House Committees on State Affairs, Energy Resources, Redistricting, and House Administration.
Prior to serving in the Texas House, Rep. Anchía was twice elected to serve as a Trustee for the Dallas Independent School District. From 2011-2015, he served in President Barack Obama's administration as an appointee to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, which advises the White House and U.S. Trade Representative on trade and investment agreements. Rep. Anchía served as Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC), the oldest and largest Latino caucus in the United States, from 2017-2022. Rep. Anchía graduated cum laude from Southern Methodist University (SMU); he continued his studies at Tulane Law School, where he served as Senior Fellow and received his juris doctor. He has dedicated his public service to fighting for civil rights, public education, protecting the environment, and improving access to healthcare for women and children. Rep. Anchía is a co-founder and Managing Director in the global investment firm, Civitas Capital Group; he also serves as Of Counsel at the largest law firm in Dallas, Haynes and Boone, where he represents financial institutions and public and private funds. Most importantly, he lives in beautiful North Oak Cliff with his wife Rebecca, is blessed with two exceptional daughters, and worships with the Catholic Campus Community at SMU.
Additional Professional Recognitions:
• The Distinguished Hispanic Alumni Award by Southern Methodist University, 2019
• Recognized as Outstanding Latino Advocate by D CEO Magazine, 2018
• Named as "Bull of the Brazos" by Texas Monthly, 2017
• Appointed Vice-Chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Labor and Economic Development Committee, 2016
• Recognized as Legislative Hero by Texas Freedom Network, 2016
• Dallas Hispanic Bar Association's "La Luz" Award, highest award given by the Association, 2015
• Appointed Chair of Dallas Charter Review Commission by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, 2014
• The Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Award from the Dallas Bar Association, 2014
• "Outstanding Legislator" by Association of Texas Professional Educators, 2014
• Cahn Fellowship, Harvard Kennedy School, 2014
• Appointed to the Democratic National Committee as at-large member, 2013
• Appointed to the Border Legislative Conference by Speaker Joe Straus, 2013
• Recognized by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 50 most influential Hispanics in the United States, 2012
• "Ohtli" Award, the highest award given by the government of Mexico to acknowledge the contributions the recipients have made to help empower Mexican and Mexican American communities in the United States, 2011
• The Gregg Cooke Award for Excellence in Environmental Leadership at the annual Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency Conference, 2011
• The Latino Leaders Maestro Award for Leadership, 2010
• Appointed to four-year term on Sunset Commission by Speaker Joe Straus, 2009
• American Jewish Committee's Institute of Human Relations Award, 2009
• Texas Lawyer's “Extraordinary Minority in Texas Law,” 2009
• Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund's Matt Garcia Public Service Award, 2009
• Named one of Texas Monthly's Ten Best Legislators, 2007
• Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow, 2007
• Chosen Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund for a three-year term, 2006
• Fleming Institute Fellow, 2006
• Texas Monthly's "Rookie of the Year," 2005
• LULAC National "Man of the Year," 2005
• British American Project Delegate, 2003
• Broad Foundation Fellow, 2003
• American Marshall Memorial Fellow, 2001