BROWNSVILLE (July 27, 2012)--First-time candidates Filemon Vela and Denise Saenz-Blanchard are competing for the Democratic nomination in a runoff in the newly drawn 34th Congressional District.

In a crowded field, Vela won 40.5 percent of the votes in the Democratic primary and Saenz-Blanchard finished second with 12.9 percent.

The winner of the July 31 runoff election would be favored in the heavily-Hispanic district, which runs from the Texas-Mexico border 200 miles north.

Vela is a South Texas attorney and Saenz-Blanchard recently began consulting after working in former Congressman Solomon Ortiz's office for nearly 20 years.

Saenz-Blanchard accuses Vela of being a Republican in disguise.

Republicans will also decide a runoff for the seat between Adela Garza who finished at the top in the primary with 36.2 percent of the vote to Jessica Puente-Bradshaw's 34.6 percent.