{"id":127346,"date":"2026-01-17T20:25:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T20:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/127346\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T20:25:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T20:25:42","slug":"meet-the-candidates-running-for-congress-in-bexar-county-districts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/127346\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the candidates running for Congress in Bexar County districts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Republicans control every lever of power in Washington D.C. right now, and Democrats\u2019 best chances of slowing down their agenda is flipping the U.S. House in 2026.<\/p>\n

So-called midterm elections typically yield big losses for the party in power in the White House, and the GOP\u2019s slim House majority is much more precarious than the party\u2019s relatively safe grip on the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why President Donald Trump got Texas to redraw its maps<\/a> outside of the Census cycle this year, creating five new GOP pickup opportunities that could help his party hold control of a chamber that\u2019s been friendly to his agenda.<\/p>\n

Bexar County is currently represented by three Democrats and two Republicans. <\/p>\n

Thanks to redistricting, it will be down to just four lawmakers after 2026, and the heavily Democratic county\u2019s congressional delegation could soon be more red than blue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The new maps pushed two popular Democratic incumbents \u2014 U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) and Greg Casar (D-Austin) \u2014 out of this area by removing the Bexar County portion of Cuellar\u2019s<\/a> South Texas district and turning Casar\u2019s Austin-to-San Antonio district<\/a> into a more San Antonio-centric seat that resulted in him competing for a different district<\/a> in Austin.<\/p>\n

The remaining Democrat, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro<\/a> (D-San Antonio), is seeking reelection in a redrawn 20th Congressional District<\/a> that will encompass nearly all of downtown San Antonio instead of just the West Side<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, three other districts reach into Bexar County from other directions, but are larger in size and include territory that\u2019s much friendlier to Republicans.<\/p>\n

Of those, Texas\u2019 23rd Congressional District stretches west from San Antonio to El Paso, where U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales<\/a> (R-San Antonio) faces three GOP primary challengers as he seeks reelection to a seat that\u2019s been made redder over time.<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 21st Congressional District, a Hill County-centric district that stretches into San Antonio\u2019s North Side, has a long list of Republicans running to replace U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Dripping Springs), who is running for Texas Attorney General instead of reelection<\/a>.<\/p>\n

San Antonio will also have a new lawmaker in the redrawn 35th Congressional District on the city\u2019s Southeast side \u2014 a seat that\u2019s become a top target of both national parties, with long lists of Republicans and Democrats competing to be their party\u2019s nominee in the March 3 primary.<\/p>\n

These are the candidates running in each of Bexar County\u2019s reshaped congressional districts, shown in the order they\u2019ll appear on the March 3 primary ballot.<\/p>\n

The November ballot could also include third-party candidates who choose their nominees through a different process, and independent candidates who collect signatures to get on the ballot after the primary.<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 20th Congressional District<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After redistricting, this is San Antonio\u2019s last reliably blue congressional seat, represented by U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro<\/a> (D-San Antonio). <\/p>\n

It went from a primarily Westside district to one that spans more of the urban core, picking up many constituents who were previously represented by U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin) in Texas\u2019 35th Congressional District. <\/p>\n

Castro is seeking an eighth term in 2026 and faces two little-known Democratic primary challengers who each ran in San Antonio\u2019s 2025 municipal election. The winner will go up against Republican Edgardo Baez<\/a>, a retired physician and first-time candidate, in November.<\/p>\n

Democrats running in Texas\u2019 20th Congressional District<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Kendra Wilkerson <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tKendra Wilkerson is a teacher who has a background in sales and marketing.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t John Atwood <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tJohn Atwood is an attorney who launched an unsuccessful campaign for San Antonio mayor in 2025.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Joaquin Castro <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tJoaquin Castro is an attorney who has represented Texas’ 20th Congressional District since 2013.<\/p>\n

Republicans running in Texas\u2019 20th Congressional District<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Edgardo Baez <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tEdgardo Baez is a U.S. Army veteran, retired medical professional, lawyer and published author.<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 21st Congressional District<\/p>\n

The deep red district includes part of Northwest San Antonio, but also stretches<\/a> up to the Hill Country to pull in some of the most conservative parts of the state.<\/p>\n

Its political lean didn\u2019t change much with redistricting, but its reach into Bexar County now covers some slightly different territory. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Dripping Springs) is running<\/a> for Texas Attorney General instead of reelection this year, and a dozen Republicans lined to compete for his seat.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Two San Antonio-area candidates are in the mix: former Bexar County GOP Vice Chair Kyle Sinclair<\/a>, and Weston Martinez<\/a>, who ran unsuccessfully for Texas GOP party chair in 2024.<\/p>\n

But the GOP primary field includes a number of higher-profile contenders likely to raise big money and interest, including Trey Trainor<\/a>, a former chair of the Federal Election Commission, Michael Wheeler<\/a>, a Trump appointee who serves as a senior adviser for the U.S. Small Business Administration, and former MLB player Mark Teixeira<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The GOP primary will likely\u00a0advance to a May 26 runoff<\/a> between the top two vote-takers, since the winner must have at least 50% of the vote.<\/p>\n

Three Democrats are seeking their party\u2019s nomination for a very uphill race in November.<\/p>\n

Republicans running in Texas\u2019 21st Congressional District<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Kyle Sinclair <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tKyle Sinclair is a hospital executive who previously served as vice chair of the Bexar GOP.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Trey Trainor <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tTrey Trainor is an election attorney who twice chaired the Federal Election Commission.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Weston Martinez <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tWeston Martinez is a businessman who served on the Texas Real Estate Commission.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Mark Teixeira <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tMark Teixeira is a former Major League Baseball player who lives in Dripping Springs.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jason Cahill <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tJason Cahill is a U.S. Navy veteran from Boerne who runs his own oil and gas company.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jacques DuBose <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tJacques DuBose is a U.S. Navy veteran and nonprofit executive who lives in Boerne.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Michael Wheeler <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tMichael Wheeler chaired the Kendall County GOP and advised the Small Business Administration.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Daniel W. Betts <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tDaniel Betts is a criminal defense attorney who lives in Dripping Springs.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Zeke Enriquez <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tZeke Enriquez is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Bandera who has served as a GOP precinct chair.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Paul Rojas <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tPaul Rojas is an engineer who lives near New Braunfels and owns a firearms manufacturing business.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Heather Tessmer <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tHeather Tessmer is an attorney who built a law firm in San Antonio and now lives in Kendall County.<\/p>\n

Democrats running in Texas\u2019 21st Congressional District<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Kristin Hook <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tKristin Hook is a biological scientist who worked at the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Gary Taylor <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tGary Taylor is a retired high school and community college math teacher.<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 23rd Congressional District<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales<\/a> (R-San Antonio) is seeking a fourth term in a district that stretches from San Antonio to El Paso and includes the lion\u2019s share of the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n

He faces three Republican challengers, including YouTuber Brandon Herrera<\/a>, who pushed him to a runoff in 2024<\/a>, and former Congressman Quico Canseco<\/a>, who held the seat for one term. <\/p>\n

Under its new boundaries, the district has a similar political lean as it did the last time Gonzales was on the ballot, but its reach into Bexar County changes some.<\/p>\n

Four Democrats are running for their party\u2019s nomination, including candidates from all parts of the massive district.<\/p>\n

Republicans running in Texas\u2019 23rd Congressional District<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Tony Gonzales <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tTony Gonzales is a U.S. Navy cryptologist from San Antonio who is seeking a fourth term in Congress this year.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Brandon Herrera <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tBrandon Herrera is a social media content creator who owns a small firearms manufacturing company.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Keith Barton <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tKeith Barton is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who now works as a branch manager at Texas First Rentals in San Antonio.<\/p>\n

Democrats running in Texas\u2019 23rd Congressional District<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Katy Padilla Stout <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tKaty Padilla Stout is a Carrizo Springs attorney on the Bexar County Child Welfare Board.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Santos Limon <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tSantos Limon is a civil engineer who grew up in Del Rio.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Gretel Enck <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tGretel Enck lives in Marfa and had a 25-year career with the National Park Service.<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 35th Congressional District<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This district is ground zero in the Trump Administration\u2019s effort to squeeze more Republican lawmakers out of Texas in 2026.<\/p>\n

Redistricting turned it from a solidly blue Austin-to-San Antonio district<\/a> into a potential GOP pickup<\/a> on San Antonio\u2019s Southeast side, drawing progressive incumbent Greg Casar (D-Austin) out of the district and leaving him to compete for a more Austin-centric seat instead<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The reshaped district stretches east from San Antonio into three counties Trump won in 2024, spurring lots of interest among local Republicans who haven\u2019t had many opportunities to move up.<\/p>\n

The crowded GOP primary includes state Rep. John Lujan<\/a> (R-San Antonio), former congressional staffer Josh Cortez<\/a>, Carlos De La Cruz<\/a>, the brother of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, Jay Furman<\/a>, a retired Navy commander who ran in TX28 last cycle and a number of other lesser-known candidates.<\/p>\n

Though the redrawn district would have supported Trump by 10 percentage points in 2024, national Democrats named the race a top battleground<\/a> for 2026, and four candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination.<\/p>\n

Republicans running in Texas\u2019 35th Congressional District<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jay Furman <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tJay Furman is a retired U.S. Navy Commander who was the Republican nominee in TX28 last election cycle.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t John Lujan <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tJohn Lujan is a former Bexar County sheriff\u2019s deputy currently representing the South Side in the Texas House.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Mark Eberwine <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tMark Eberwine is a San Antonio home inspector who was president of the Texas Association of Real Estate Inspectors.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Rod<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Rob Lingsch <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tRod Lingsch is a former U.S. Air Force pilot and pilot instructor.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Randy Adams <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tRandy Adams runs a car dealership in New Braunfels.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Ryan Krause <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tRyan Krause owns an executive coaching business with his wife in Seguin.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Steven Wright <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tSteven Wright is a Texas Deputy Constable who relocated with his family from California to Comal County.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Josh Cortez <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tJosh Cortez is a former congressional staffer and Harvard Kennery School fellow from Guadalupe County.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Carlos De La Cruz <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tCarlos De La Cruz is a U.S. Air Force veteran who opened a kickboxing gym in San Antonio in 2018.<\/p>\n

Democrats running in Texas\u2019 35th Congressional District<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Johnny Garcia <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tJohnny Garcia is a veteran deputy with the Bexar County Sheriff\u2019s Office and its current PIO.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Maureen Galindo <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tMaureen Galindo is a marriage and family therapist who lives in San Antonio. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t John Lira <\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tJohn Lira is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former federal employee who lives in San Antonio. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Republicans control every lever of power in Washington D.C. right now, and Democrats\u2019 best chances of slowing down…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":127347,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[8519,21085,82,84,83,54949,54950,32624,54951,54952,3028],"class_list":["post-127346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-2026-election","tag-joaquin-castro","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-headlines","tag-san-antonio-news","tag-texas-2025-redistricting","tag-texas-23rd-congressional-district","tag-texas-35th-congressional-district","tag-texas-20th-congressional-district","tag-texas-21st-congressional-district","tag-typedaily"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127346"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127346\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}