We recommend incumbent state Rep. Mark Dorazio in his bid for a third term representing Texas House District 122.
While we don’t agree with Dorazio, a Republican, on a number of issues, our recommendation is broader than tallying issues on a score sheet.
It’s notable that in a majority-Republican district, Dorazio outperformed President Donald Trump during the 2024 general election, garnering 58.1% of the vote in his election versus Trump’s 54.9% in the presidential race.
Given the open race in House District 118 and the tough challenge that Republican state Rep. Marc LaHood faces from Zach Dunn in District 121, Dorazio could be one of two Republicans in San Antonio’s statehouse delegation, along with state Sen. Donna Campbell, whose district includes northern Bexar County.
We give credit to Dorazio for his opposition to the controversial Guajolote Ranch development, the proposed 2,900-home project with plans for a sewage plant that would discharge up to 1 million gallons per day of treated wastewater into Helotes Creek.
Dorazio reached his position after he took the time to understand the characteristics of the karst formations that comprise the area under Helotes Creek.
“I’m not against development,” he said. “But I’m for good, commonsense development.”
The administrative rules by which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality operates favor permit applicants such as Municipal Operations LLC, the company that developer Lennar Corp. has engaged to operate the proposed wastewater treatment plant.
Nevertheless, Dorazio’s support was more than symbolic. When his constituents reached out with concerns, he invested time and energy to understand them, and we’re confident he will continue to listen, even to those who disagree.
While we recommend Dorazio, we also are impressed by his Democratic opponent, Dr. Shelly Nickels. Given that’s she’s a physician and medical director with Methodist Hospital, it’s unsurprising that she’s well-versed on healthcare. We agree with her call for expanding Medicare in Texas and blocking the Texas Republican Party’s goal to ban IVF treatment.
She is also strong on other important issues. She opposes public school vouchers, believes the Legislature has failed to properly fund public education and supports investing in universal prekindergarten.
Nickels may be the future of Senate District 19, but the present in many ways still calls for Dorazio.