Rafael Michael Anchia, born on September 26, 1968, in Miami, Florida, is a prominent American politician and attorney known for his long-standing service as a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing the Dallas-based 103rd District since 2005.

The son of immigrants from Mexico and Spain, he was raised in Miami where his mother, a dedicated public-school teacher, and his father, whose family faced hardship during Franco's regime in Spain, instilled in him the values of education and public service.

He attended Miami Coral Park Senior High School and then went on to Southern Methodist University in Dallas on a scholarship, graduating with honors after triple majoring in Spanish, Latin American studies, and Anthropology.

He furthered his education at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, earning his Juris Doctor and serving as Senior Fellow; as a student, he contributed to legislation establishing an ombudsman for Louisiana nursing homes and advocated for immigrant detainees.

Before entering the Texas Legislature, he was twice elected to the Dallas Independent School District board of trustees, where he played a key role in improving teacher retention and securing significant school funding.

In his legislative career, he has earned recognition for his dedication to civil rights, public education, environmental protection, and health care, notably serving as Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus from 2017 to 2022 and as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Broadband.

His leadership extended nationally when he was appointed by President Barack Obama to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, advising on international investment and trade agreements from 2011 to 2015.

Outside the legislature, he is an accomplished attorney, serving as Of Counsel at Haynes & Boone LLP, and is co-founder and Managing Director of Civitas Capital Group. His public service and professional achievements have earned him repeated honors, including recognition by Texas Monthly and various civic organizations.

He resides in Dallas’s Oak Cliff neighborhood with his wife Rebecca and their two daughters, actively participating in the local Catholic community.