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Early vote outcomes confirmed Republican Rep. John Lujan main Democrat Frank Ramirez by a mere 2.5% margin in some of the intently watched Texas Home races Tuesday evening.
Lujan has twice represented Texas’ Home District 118 after successful particular elections, together with final 12 months, however no Republican has ever gained the seat in a common election. The district was redrawn extra favorably for Republicans final 12 months, however nonetheless former President Joe Biden would have carried the newly drawn district by roughly 3%.
The district contains parts of south Bexar County and wraps across the far east and northeast areas.
Lujan, a former Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy and Bexar County firefighter, has spent years courting help for conservative causes on San Antonio’s deep blue South Facet. His efforts obtained a large increase this election cycle when Republicans set their sights on successful over Hispanic voters.
“At one level you wouldn’t say ‘Southside Republican,’” Lujan informed a bunch of supporters gathered to greet voters at Mission Library final week. “There’s nonetheless a whole lot of closeted on the market who’re like, ‘I’m voting for you,’ however they’re quiet about it.”
Texas Home Speaker Dade Phelan, who recruited Lujan to run within the particular election, mixed with different GOP teams, poured $1.5 million value of in-kind assist similar to TV and mail adverts, polling and consulting into Lujan’s marketing campaign. Gov. Greg Abbott held a marketing campaign rally at Lujan’s brother’s feed retailer in Von Ormy days earlier than the election.
Ramirez is a former staffer within the Texas Home and on the San Antonio Metropolis Council. He ran unsuccessfully for the seat in a particular election in 2021.
Ramirez, who completed intently behind Lujan within the particular election runoff, acquired some marketing campaign assist from organized labor.
Texas Home District 122
Republican Mark Dorazio was main the race to exchange retiring Rep. Lyle Larson, who didn’t search reelection. Dorazio took almost 55% of the early vote to Democrat Angi Aramburu’s roughly 42%.
Dorazio, who owns his personal building firm, was one in all few victories for the conservative wing of the social gathering this election season. He completed second within the main, however went on to beat former San Antonio Metropolis Councilwoman Elisa Chan in an costly runoff. Chan put a lot of her personal cash into the race whereas Dorazio had assist from West Texas oil barons who fund the Defend Texas Liberty PAC.
Dorazio would change Larson, a reasonable who steadily butted heads with Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Although Dorazio has provided few particulars on his plan for the Legislature, he’s well-known in Republican circles for main the hassle to censure then-Home Speaker Joe Straus throughout his quick time period as chair of the Republican Get together of Bexar County.
Because the main runoff Dorazio’s marketing campaign has been low key. He’s averted boards and media interviews, and spent simply $6,000 within the month of October.
Aramburu campaigned aggressively at Democratic Get together gatherings however raised and spent little for her race. The redrawn district would have supported President Donald Trump in 2020 by 8.17%.
Aramburu is a public relations skilled who owns her personal health firm. She served on Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s Health Council and volunteers together with her native Mum or dad Academics Affiliation.
Stephanie Berlin, the Libertarian candidate for the seat, acquired simply 2.4% of the early vote. She is a human assets skilled and recruiter and beforehand ran unsuccessfully for Congress and the State Board of Schooling.
Texas Home District 121
The early vote confirmed Republican Rep. Steve Allison main Democrat Becca Moyer DeFelice by a 8.7% margin.
Allison is searching for his third time period within the Texas Home. He’s a enterprise lawyer who served on the board of Alamo Heights Unbiased Faculty District. Within the Home, he serves on the Public Well being and Public Schooling committees.
DeFelice is a nonprofit marketing consultant and gun security advocate. Adopted from Korea, she grew up on a farm in a Mennonite group in Pennsylvania and has lived in San Antonio since 2006.
Although Republicans have lengthy held Home District 121, previously represented by Straus, GOP leaders spent large defending Allison this 12 months. The redrawn district would have supported Trump by 2.3% however contains lots of the rich, suburban voters which have been shifting into the Democratic Get together lately.
Allison acquired nearly $500,000 value of in-kind marketing campaign contributions from Texas Home Speaker Dade Phelan, Related Republicans of Texas and different GOP-aligned teams. DeFelice acquired a lot smaller help from organized labor teams.
Texas Home District 124
Democrat Josey Garcia, a U.S. Air Pressure veteran and police reform activist, was main with almost 69% of the early vote to Republican Johnny Arredondo’s 31%.
Garcia runs a youth nonprofit she based that conducts mission journeys to Mexico to assist migrants on their journey to the U.S.
Arredondo is a retired retail skilled who referees NCAA basketball video games. He ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2018 and for San Antonio Metropolis Council’s District 4 seat in 2019.
Texas Home District 117
Democratic incumbent Philip Cortez held a commanding lead over Republican challenger Aaron Swope, main early vote totals with almost 65% of the vote.
Cortez is searching for his fourth consecutive time period within the Texas Home. A former San Antonio Metropolis Council member and U.S. Air Pressure veteran, he at present chairs the Home Committee on City Affairs.
Schwope manages a San Antonio-based repossession firm. He beforehand labored within the insurance coverage business and served as a volunteer firefighter.
Texas Home District 119
Incumbent Democrat Liz Campos secured her second time period within the Home with a convincing 79.3% of the early vote over Libertarian activist and opponent Arthur M. Thomas IV, who acquired simply 20.7%.
Campos is a former state Home and state Senate staffer and serves on the Public Well being and City Affairs committees.
Thomas has run unsuccessfully for Congress, the Texas Home and Senate, the San Antonio Metropolis Council and the San Antonio River Authority board of administrators.
Texas Home District 120
Democrat Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, searching for her fourth time period within the Texas Home, additionally appeared to retain her seat with almost 69% of the early vote. An educator and building firm proprietor, she serves as vice chair of the Tradition, Recreation, and Tourism Committee, in addition to the Protection and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Republican challenger Ronald Payne, a retired U.S. Military veteran and well being care skilled, captured simply 31% of the early vote.
Texas Home District 123
Incumbent Diego Bernal, a civil rights lawyer and former San Antonio Metropolis Council member, secured almost 68% of the early vote towards Republican challenger Charlotte Valdez, who didn’t seem to mount a significant marketing campaign.
Bernal gained the Texas Home seat in a 2015 particular election and serves on the Public Schooling and City Affairs committees.
Texas Home District 125
Democrat Ray Lopez additionally seems secure with 64% of the early vote. He was searching for his third time period within the Texas Home. He’s a former communications government for AT&T who represented District 6 on the San Antonio Metropolis Council and served on the board of Northside Unbiased Faculty District. Within the Home, he serves on the Protection and Veterans Affairs committee.
Republican challenger Carlos Antonio Raymond is a U.S. Military Veteran and realtor. He ran unsuccessfully for Texas’ Home District 117 in 2020.
