Anthony “Tony” Sabio, a Virginia resident who was born in Puerto Rico, has announced a challenge to incumbent Congressman Don Beyer in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District.
Sabio’s mother is Puerto Rican and his father is Filipino. He moved to Northern Virginia after serving in the U.S. Navy.
According to local press, Sabio’s platform includes more support for law enforcement, advocacy for veterans and “rebuilding a strong national defense.”
Puerto Ricans in Congress
The U.S. Congress currently includes six members who can trace their roots back to Puerto Rico:
- Pablo José Hernández Rivera (D-PR), the Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
- Nydia Velázquez (D-NY)
- Darren Soto (D-FL)
- Ritchie Torres (D-NY)
- Nellie Pou (D-NJ)
This is less than we would expect if the House of Representatives mirrored the population of the states. If the same percentage of representatives were Puerto Rican as the percentage of the general population who are Puerto Rican, we would expect to see about 10 Puerto Rican congressmen and women.
Sabio would be the first stateside Republican Puerto Rican serving in Congress, although there have been plenty of Republican Resident Commissioners including current Puerto Rican Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon.
Tony Sabio
Sabio, who was born in San Juan, is running as a Republican in a district that trends Democratic. Sabio has an opponent for the upcoming primary.
Sabio’s website paints a picture of a man of integrity defending constituents against politically-motivated government. “With over two decades of experience in the U.S. Military, the Secret Service, and the CIA, Tony has operated in the shadows to ensure that others could thrive in the light of freedom,” his profile says.
“His mission has always been clear: defend this nation, protect its people, and uphold the Constitution – no matter the cost. He believes that common sense should guide our decisions in government, and that leaders must prioritize Country Before Politics.”
An adoptive parent, Sabio ran unsuccessfully for the school board of Fairfax County, emphasizing parents’ rights, safety, and mental health. He has a degree in Aviation from Liberty University and has worked in the security field for more than two decades.
He has been affiliated with the American Legion, the America United Foundation, the Patriot Guard Riders, and the Worthy Ranch.
A conservative Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico has a long tradition of military service in the U.S. armed forces, sending about 10% of the Island’s sons and daughters into the military. This compares with about 0.4% nationwide.
Puerto Rico also has a long history of conservative values and republican leadership, contrary to the stereotype sometimes held up by supporters of continued territory status for Puerto Rico. Sabio is an example of this aspect of Puerto Rican political life.
