All eight Democratic candidates running for Bexar County District Attorney will face off on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in a debate hosted by the San Antonio Report and Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce at the Carver Community Cultural Center.
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Democrats piled into this race after District Attorney Joe Gonzales (D), who rode into office with a class of progressive DAs elected across the country in 2018, announced plans to retire at the end of his term.
The crowded field of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination includes: former Fourth Court of Appeals Justice Luz Elena Chapa (D), prosecutors Oscar Salinas and Angelica “Meli” Carrión Powers, who serves as chief of the Family Violence Division in the DA’s office, criminal defense attorneys Veronica Legarreta, Shannon Locke and Meredith Chacon, who ran in Republicans’ DA primary in 2022, Jane Davis, who serves as chief of the DA office’s Juvenile Section, and James Bethke, executive director of the Managed Assigned Counsel Office.
Early voting for the March 3 primary runs Feb. 17 through Feb. 27.
The Democratic primary is likely to advance to a May 26 runoff between the top two vote-takers, since the winner must take at least 50% of the vote.
On the Republican side, former felony prosecutor Ashley Foster will face off against the winner of the Democratic runoff in November.
An independent candidate, Jason Wolff, is also collecting signatures to get on the November ballot.
The February debate will explore each Democratic candidate’s vision for the embattled District Attorney’s Office and how they would exercise the significant discretion that comes with the job, from charging decisions to case prioritization and courtroom management.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are free for those who register in advance online. Debate sponsorships are available, as well as VIP tickets.
To submit a question for consideration, text the San Antonio Report at (210) 796-6853.
The week after the DA primary debate, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and Democratic primary challenger Ron Nirenberg will face off in a primary debate Feb. 10 at Stable Hall, hosted by the Report, the Chamber and Tech Bloc.
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