Rep. Canales, Terry

Biography

Texas State Representative Terry Canales was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2012, representing District 40, which covers the heart of Hidalgo County. This district includes the cities of Edinburg (Hidalgo County seat), Elsa, Cesar Chavez, Murillo, La Coma Heights San Carlos, La Blanca, Linn, Lopezville, and portions of McAllen, Pharr and San Juan.

In 2025, Canales was appointed by Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows to serve as Chairman of the Texas House Committee on Transportation Funding, a vital position for advancing transportation infrastructure in the rapidly growing Rio Grande Valley. This key role will be critical in advancing transportation infrastructure in the rapidly growing Rio Grande Valley, where strategic investments in transportation are essential to economic development and quality of life. His leadership in this area has been crucial for advocating innovative and sustainable funding for transportation initiatives that support both the Valley and Texas' overall growth and mobility.

In addition to his role on the Transportation Funding Committee, Canales was appointed to the Texas House Committee on Calendars, which determines when and if bills will be heard on the House floor. This position grants the Rio Grande Valley a significant voice in the legislative process. Furthermore, he serves on the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans’ Affairs, a recognition of the Rio Grande Valley's critical role in statewide policy.

From 2019 to January 2025, Representative Canales served as Chairman of the House Transportation Committee. He became the first Latino to hold this position. In 2025 Speaker Burrows reappointed Representative Canales to serve as a member of the House Transportation Committee marking his third consecutive session in the committee. 

Throughout his tenure in the Texas Legislature, Representative Canales has been a strong advocate for transparency and open government. He has passed numerous pieces of legislation to ensure the public's right to know how taxpayer dollars are spent and to guarantee public participation in local government meetings. Canales has also focused on education, criminal justice reform, and resource efficiency, leading efforts to support public schools and teachers and eliminate modern-day debtor's prisons in Texas.

Canales earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of the Incarnate Word and his law degree from St. Mary’s School of Law. After passing the Texas State Bar Exam, he opened his own law practice in Edinburg, where he resides with his wife, Erica E. Canales, and their five children: Juliana, Terry Andres, Caleb Ezra, Trigo, and Catalina.