Learn About Abel Villarreal, Jr.

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I’m a lifelong South Texan, raised by hardworking parents who taught me the value of perseverance, humility, and service. My mother worked as a legal assistant, and some of my earliest memories are of sitting quietly under her desk as she met with clients, watching how the law could bring people clarity and peace when they needed it most. Today, she serves as my campaign treasurer.

My father is a truck driver who made sure I understood the value of hard work. As a kid, I often joined him on long work trips across Texas and beyond. I helped unload freight, handled equipment, and saw firsthand what it meant to earn a living through discipline and determination. He showed me that honest work is something to be proud of and that responsibility starts with showing up. 

Though my parents divorced when I was young, I was raised by a family rooted in strong values and a deep sense of community. I spent my summers helping my grandmother at her car wash business in Escobares, Texas. My father and I would also help my grandfather at his ranch during the hot summers and throughout the year. That’s where I learned what it means to work with your hands, to stay humble, and to never take anything for granted.

Education opened the doors that hard work made possible. I attended the University of Texas Pan American, where I double majored in philosophy and political science, graduating in just two years and with honors. During my undergraduate years, I had the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C. with the American Bar Association, where I lobbied for immigration reform, observed litigation at the Supreme Court, and helped advance initiatives like the Uniform Bar Exam. 

I later earned my law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, also graduating early and with honors. While there, I served as President of the Hispanic Bar Association and studied abroad at the Universidad de Guanajuato in Mexico, where I focused on Mexican law and international human rights. These experiences expanded my understanding of justice both at home and across borders.

 After law school, I returned home and dedicated my career to serving the people of the 229th Judicial District. I’ve represented clients in personal injury and family law matters, served as a defense attorney, worked as City Attorney for the City of Roma, and currently serve as First Assistant District Attorney. I’ve seen the courtroom from every side and have always worked to pursue justice with fairness, balance, and integrity.