By Edmond Ortiz
The blue Democratic wave in the Nov. 3 elections was reflected in solid Democratic victories across notable Bexar County races and several Texas Legislature contests, including a few areas that have traditionally voted Republican.
BEXAR COUNTY
Democrat and former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg claimed the county judge’s seat with 67% of the vote over Republican Patrick Von Dohlen.
Nirenberg replaces Peter Sakai, who will end his first and only term as the county’s top elected official after being upset in last spring’s Democratic primary.
Nirenberg campaign emphasized being proactive and building partnerships to bolster Bexar County’s justice system, public safety, affordable housing, economic development, healthcare access, transportation, road infrastructure, as well as protecting natural resources, and ensuring free, fair elections.
Democrat Luz Elena Chapa, a former Fourth Court of Appeals judge, is the new criminal district attorney. She prevailed with 62% over Republican Ashley Foster, a former assistant district attorney, and independent Jason Wolff, a criminal defense attorney.
Chapa has focused her campaign on issues such as fully funding the DA’s office, advocating for victims of crime, cutting the backlog of unprosecuted domestic violence cases, and repairing a fractured relationship between the DA’s office and local law enforcement agencies.
Elsewhere in Bexar County, Pct. 2 Commissioner and Democrat Justin Rodriguez was re-elected with 73% over Republican David Sherwood, a political upstart.
Rodriguez focused his campaign on public safety, affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, stronger election systems, job creation, and expanding mental health treatment and recovery support as a means of preventative healthcare.
Pct. 4 Commissioner and Democrat Tommy Calvert received 81% to secure another four-year term in office. He had no Republican opponent, but got a challenge from independent Roy Anthony II.
Experienced as a local entrepreneur, Calvert centered his attention on issues such as affordability, investing in public health, redevelopment of under-utilized properties and socioeconomically challenged areas, and improving public safety and infrastructure in neighborhoods. He also was vocal on matters such as the federal government’s plan to develop a migrant detention center on the East Side.
CONGRESS
Democrat Johnny Garcia, a Bexar County sheriff’s deputy, received 59% to represent a redrawn Congressional District 35, which stretches into deep South Texas. He beat Universal City resident Carlos De La Cruz, a U.S. Air Force veteran and business owner.
A San Antonio native, Garcia campaigned on issues such as affordability, boosting workforce development and apprenticeship programs, reining in data centers, fighting corruption, protecting social assistance programs, and bolstering public safety. He also backs comprehensive immigration reform that includes border security, pathways to citizenship, and work visas that meet economic needs.
San Antonio attorney Katy Padilla Stout reclaimed the Congressional District 23 post for Democrats. She tallied 52.9% over controversial Republican and Helotes entrepreneur Brandon Herrera, and independent Ben Mendoza.
Stout advocated a fairer tax code, protecting social welfare programs, improving affordability and healthcare access, protecting reproductive rights, strengthening gun safety laws, comprehensive immigration reform, and opposing a border wall.
Democrat Joaquin Castro won an eighth term as the Congressional District 20 representative with 79% over Republican attorney Edgardo Rafael Baez.
Castro was vocal on issues such as immigrants’ rights, and was vital in helping to get improperly-detained migrant children and their families released from the Dilley, Texas detention facility.
Mark Teixeira, a Dripping Springs, Texas Republican and a former Texas Rangers baseball star, will replace Chip Roy as the Congressional District 21 representative. He collected 53% over San Antonian Kristin Hook, a Democrat and former teacher and government scientist.
Teixeira promoted many talking points of social and economic conservatives, including border security, illegal immigration, crime, foreign policy and gun rights.
STATE SENATE
District 19 State Sen. Roland Gutierrez won re-election with 66% over Republican and South Side native Marcus Cardenas.
Gutierrez is a past member of San Antonio City Council and the Texas House of Representatives. Among other issues, he has prioritized mental health programs, especially those dedicated to serving military veterans.
Gutierrez also pushed the state to launch a crisis call center that extends emotional and legal support to survivors of sexual assault. Additionally, he was instrumental in pressing for improved gun safety, law enforcement accountability, and support for survivors and their families in the wake of the 2022 Uvalde school shooting.
District 21 State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, a Laredoan, was re-elected with 70% over Sutherland Springs Republican Julie Dahlberg, an Army veteran and business owner.
Zaffirini’s platform includes backing free community college job training programs, infrastructure construction, higher minimum wages, worker safety programs, raising public school funding, and widening access to affordable healthcare.
District 26 State Sen. Jose Menendez won re-election with 85% over Republican Julian Villarreal.
STATE HOUSE
District 116 State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, a Democrat and attorney, received 77% to beat Republican Rhett Smith.
Democrat Philip Cortez secured a sixth term as the District 117 state representative with 72% over Republican Ben Mostyn.
Democrat and community organizer Kristian Carranza, a native South Sider, won the open District 118 state house post with 63% over Republican Jorge Borrego.
Democratic incumbent Elizabeth “Liz” Campos tallied 73% to win re-election as the Texas House District 119 representative, defeating Republican Melva Perez, a retired Army officer.
Attorney Zack Dunn recorded a rare Democratic win in Texas House District 121, where he collected 55% to oust Republican incumbent and attorney Marc LaHood. District 121 includes the Alamo Heights and Stone Oak areas and runs along U.S. 281 north into the Hill Country.
Texas House District 122 Republican incumbent Mark Dorazio held off a strong challenge from Democrat and physician Shelly Nickels, winning his re-election bid with 51%. District 122 covers a wide swath of north and northwest Bexar County and San Antonio, and includes Shavano Park, Grey Forest, Helotes, Hill Country Village and Hollywood Park.
Democrat Josey Garcia, District 124 state representative, received 75% over Republican Sylvia Soto, a lector at Mission San Jose, and a teacher..
Democrat and educator Adrian Reyna tallied 70% to beat Republican entrepreneur Ricardo “Rick” Martinez and claim the open Texas House District 125 seat where Democrat Ray Lopez is retiring.
District 19 State Rep. Ellen Troxclair, a Marble Falls Republican, realtor and ex-Austin City Council member, received 75% in a re-election victory over Democrat and Round Rock resident Kelly Hall.
Approximately 55% of State House District 44 voters re-elected Republican and McQueeney resident Alan Schoolcraft over Democrat and Seguin small business owner Eric Norman.
District 73 State Rep. Carrie Isaac, a nonprofit executive, received 63% to win re-election over
Democrat Merrie Fox, an educator and executive director of New Braunfels’ Circle Arts Theatre.
Issac came under fire from several New Braunfels city leaders recently when she challenged the city’s authority in disciplining a local firefighter over his alleged derogatory social media posts.
Bexar County recorded 49% voter turnout. Comal County had 59% voter turnout. Kendall County had 65% voter turnout.
