I am not running to be first in anything. I am running to make sure Texas is first in everything

Tony Sanchez, candidate for governor

Mr Sanchez, a wealthy businessman, is the first member of the minority US Hispanic community to secure the nomination for governor of Texas.

He easily defeated former Texas Attorney General Dan Morales, another Mexican-American, in the race to win the party nomination.

"I am not running to be first in anything. I am running to make sure Texas is first in everything," he told a cheering crowd.

Mr Sanchez will face the incumbent Governor, Rick Perry, the Republican candidate, in elections in November.

Many firsts

Correspondents say his nomination reflects the growing influence of the Mexican-American community in Texas, a large state bordering Mexico.

Hispanics make up a sixth of the Texan electorate

Mr Sanchez is not a typical Democratic politician.

A seventh-generation Texan, he was not born in a rich family.

As a young man he worked as a fruit-packer, packing melons and pineapples for business houses operating near the Texas-Mexico border.

The first member of his family to go to college, he later on earned degrees in law and business.

Mr Sanchez worked with his father to build up large oil and gas and banking firms with assets of over $6bn.

Despite being a Democrat, he donated $300,000 to fellow Texan oilman George W Bush's gubernatorial and presidential campaigns.

Moderate beliefs

Mr Sanchez says these donations reflected his centrist political beliefs.

Mr Morales was easily defeated

He says he wants to bring his business skills to government and improve administration.

A catholic who personally opposes abortion, he nonetheless supports abortion rights of others.

But one of Mr Sanchez's main areas of interest is education.

During his campaign he said he wanted to be governor to "fix the state's educational system".