Biography:

Charlie Gonzalez was born in San Antonio, Texas, where he still lives. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas in 1969 and a law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1972.

Gonzalez served as a state district judge until November 1997, when he announced he was stepping down to seek the Democratic nomination for the 20th District U.S. House seat.

Gonzalez previously served as a county judge and municipal judge and was an elementary school teacher.

He served in the Texas Air National Guard.

He is the son of U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez, who held the 20th District House seat from 1961 to 1998. The elder Gonzalez decided not to seek re-election in 1998 because of failing health. Charlie Gonzalez won the seat that year.

He has one child and two stepchildren.

Past Campaigns:

Charlie Gonzalez was elected county judge in 1984 and district judge in 1988.

He was elected to the U.S. House in 1998, defeating Republican James Walker, in the race to succeed Gonzalez' father, Henry, who retired after 37 years in Congress.

He was re-elected in 2000 with 88 percent of the vote. In 2002, he was re-elected without major opposition.

He drew a Republican challenger for the 2004 general election. His ex-wife Becky Whetstone attempted to run as independent. The two were married in 1998 and divorced in 2002.

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