Mayor John Cowen Jr. was elected Mayor of the City of Brownsville on May 6, 2023, and sworn into office on May 16, 2023. A Brownsville native and sixth-generation Brownsvillian, Mayor Cowen comes from a family with a long tradition of service to the community. He brings extensive experience in business, finance, and international trade.

Mayor Cowen is the President of Cowen Group, LTD, a Brownsville-based company involved in customs brokerage, warehousing and distribution, commercial real estate, and multifamily development. Earlier in his career, he worked as a consultant with Deloitte, advising businesses on cross-border and international trade matters. He holds a finance degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame and is a licensed U.S. Customs broker.

Since taking office, Mayor Cowen has focused on building a “future-ready” Brownsville by advancing infrastructure investments, expanding economic opportunity, modernizing city services, and revitalizing downtown. His administration has overseen major initiatives including the expansion of citywide high-speed broadband through the OMNI Fiber Smart City initiative, as well as the implementation of Brownsville’s historic $300 million Capital Improvement Plan, the largest infrastructure investment in the city’s history.

Economic development has also accelerated under his leadership, with projects supporting growth in aerospace, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and energy industries. His administration has worked closely with regional partners to strengthen Brownsville’s role as a major economic hub in South Texas while supporting innovation, startups, and workforce development.

Mayor Cowen has also prioritized downtown revitalization, with more than $42 million in redevelopment investments directed toward historic restoration and catalytic projects. These efforts, along with new educational and cultural initiatives, are helping transform downtown Brownsville into a vibrant center for arts, culture, and economic activity.

In addition to leading the City of Brownsville, Mayor Cowen serves in several regional and national leadership roles, including Vice Chair for Border Policy, Criminal, and Social Justice with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Vice Chair of the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization. He also serves on several boards focused on economic development, trade, and regional collaboration.

Through his leadership, Mayor Cowen continues to champion strategic growth, innovation, and opportunity for the residents of Brownsville and the broader Rio Grande Valley.