By Edmond Ortiz
A former San Antonio mayor upsetting Bexar County’s top elected leader was one of the key outcomes in the local March 3 Democratic and Republican primaries.
What you should know
According to Bexar County Elections Department, 22% of the county’s registered voters cast a ballot in this year’s Democratic or Republican party primaries; the victors of Congressional, statewide, legislative and county primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 midterm general elections.
Ron Nirenberg, who in 2025 completed an eight-year stint as San Antonio’s mayor, is one of the more high-profile winners of the local March 3 elections. He received 62% of the vote to win the Democratic nomination in the Bexar County judge race, defeating first-term incumbent Peter Sakai.
Nirenberg’s 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.
Nirenberg will face Republican Patrick Von Dohlen, a past San Antonio City Council contestant, in the Nov. 3 election.
A May 26 runoff will be needed to determine a winner in the Democratic primary for Bexar County district attorney. Luz Elena Chapa, former Fourth Court of Appeals judge, and Jane Davis, juvenile division chief for outgoing DA Joe Gonzales, were the top two vote-getters on March 3. None of the eight primary candidates achieved 50% of the vote.
The Democratic runoff winner will meet Republican Ashley Foster, a former assistant district attorney, in November.
Here’s a look at major primary election results in neighboring counties:
COMAL COUNTY
Kristen Hoyt, former county tax assessor-collector, received 67% in a three-way race to win the GOP primary for county judge. With no Democratic opponent awaiting in November, Hoyt will succeed County Judge Sherman Krause, who died Feb. 7 at age 62.
Steve Minus, a New Braunfels ISD trustee, collected 51% to win the Republican primary for Precinct 2 commissioner. Minus will succeed Scott Haag, who declined a re-election bid.
Comal County elections officials reported 28% voter turnout.
GUADALUPE COUNTY
Jim Wolverton tallied 61% to win the GOP primary for Precinct 3 county commissioner. He will fill the rest of an unexpired term of a post vacated by former Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter, who filed for county judge. Wolverton, who was appointed last December to replace Carpenter as Precinct 3 commissioner, beat former Schertz City Councilmember Allison Heyward.
Ronnie Clark, mayor of the town of Staples, Texas, claimed 54% to win the Republican primary for Precinct 2 commissioner over Noah Webster. With no Democratic challenger waiting in the wings, Clark will succeed Drew Engelke, who chose not to seek re-election.
Precinct 4 Commissioner and Seguin resident Stephen Germann is headed to a GOP primary runoff with former Cibolo City Councilmember Joel Hicks. Former Cibolo Mayor Mark Allen finished third and failed to make the runoff for the Precinct 4 seat.
Guadalupe County reported 23% voter turnout.
KENDALL COUNTY
Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk is headed for a GOP primary runoff with Ricky Gleason, a financial advisor and former Boerne Planning and Zoning Commission member. Stolarczyk finished with 44% of the vote followed by Gleason, who received 40%.
Pct. 2 Commissioner Andra Wisian, also, is going to a Republican primary runoff with J.C. Taylor, a businessman and member of the Fair Oaks Ranch Zoning Board of Adjustment. Wisian claimed 47% and Taylor got 38%.
Republican and Pct. 4 Commissioner Chad Carpenter was re-elected with 64% of the vote, foiling a challenge from Brett D’Spain. He has no Democratic opponent.
Kendall County reported 33% voter turnout.
Here are results of certain San Antonio-area primaries for Congressional and legislative posts:
CONGRESS
U.S. Representative, District 21
Mark Teixeira, a former Texas Rangers baseball star, outpaced more than 10 other Republican primary contestants with 57%. He will face San Antonian Kristin Hook, a former federal government scientist who won the Democratic primary.
U.S. Representative District 23
Helotes entrepreneur Brandon Herrera led the GOP primary with 43% to advance to a runoff with scandal-plagued three-term incumbent and U.S. Navy veteran Tony Gonzales. The Republican runoff winner will meet Democratic primary victor Katy Padilla Stout, a San Antonio attorney.
U.S. Representative District 35
San Antonian and current District 118 State Rep. John Lujan and Universal City resident Carlos De La Cruz, a U.S. Air Force veteran and business owner, are advancing to a GOP runoff.
The victorious Republican will meet the winner of a Democratic primary runoff for the redrawn Congressional district between San Antonio-based community organizer Maureen Galindo, a former City Council contestant, and Johnny Garcia, who presently serves as Sheriff Javier Salazar’s public information officer.
U.S. Representative District 20
Incumbent Joaquin Castro received 89% in fending off two Democratic primary challengers, and will face Republican attorney Edgardo Rafael Baez, in the general election.
STATE LEGISLATURE
State Senate District 19
Democratic incumbent Roland Gutierrez is awaiting the winner of a Republican primary runoff between business owner and South Side native Marcus Cardenas, and Schertz resident Robert Marks, a previous Schertz City Council candidate.
State Senate District 21
Incumbent and Laredoan Judith Zaffirini collected 73% and beat Austin challenger Cortney Jones, a community advocate, social worker, and nonprofit leader. Zaffirini will meet Sutherland Springs Republican Julie Dahlberg, an Army veteran and business owner, on Nov. 3.
State House District 19
Incumbent Ellen Troxclair, a Marble Falls resident, realtor and ex-Austin City Council member, easily beat George Cambanis, who withdrew from the GOP primary, but his name remained on the local ballot.
Troxclair will face Democrat and Round Rock resident Kelly Hall in the general election.
State House District 44
McQueeney resident Alan Schoolcraft, seeking a second term in his second stint as a state representative, easily fended off a challenge from Cibolo resident Gabriel Ortiz, a Texas Army National Guard veteran, and small business owner. Schoolcraft will meet Seguin small business owner Eric Norman, who garnered 62% in the Democratic primary.
State House District 117
Philip Cortez, seeking a sixth term, won the Democratic primary with 73% over attorney and Army veteran Robert Mihara. Cortez advances to the Nov. 3 election where he will take on Republican Ben Mostyn, a realtor and Army veteran.
State House District 118
Jorge Borrego, who has been a realtor and a policy analyst, received 53% to outpace two other Republicans in their primary for a chance to succeed John Lujan. Borrego will meet Democrat and community organizer Kristian Carranza, a native South Sider who lost to Lujan in the 2024 general election.
State House District 119
Incumbent Elizabeth “Liz” Campos, seeking a third term, easily defeated challenger and attorney Ryan Ayala in the Democratic primary. Campos will face Republican Melva Perez, a retired Army officer, in November.
State House District 120
Democratic incumbent Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, seeking a sixth term, had no problem overcoming primary challenges from special education teacher Jordan Brown and community organizer Bently Paiz. Gervin-Hawkins will have no Republican opponent in November.
State House District 121
Republican incumbent and attorney Marc LaHood, seeking a second term, beat a primary challenge from realtor David McArthur. LaHood will meet Democratic attorney Zack Dunn in November.
State House District 122
Incumbent Mark Dorazio, seeking a third term, defeated peace officer and business owner Willie Vasquez Ng in the Republican primary. Dorazio will meet Democrat and physician Shelly Nickels in November.
State House District 125
Educator Adrian Reyna and Michelle Barrientes Vela, a former Bexar County constable, are headed for a Democratic primary runoff for a chance to succeed retiring Democratic State Rep. Ray Lopez. The winner will face Ricardo “Rick” Martinez, an entrepreneur and nonprofit founder, who won the GOP primary over Chuck Mercer IV, a former educator and financial advisor.
