{"id":179955,"date":"2026-02-25T17:59:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T17:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/179955\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T17:59:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T17:59:34","slug":"abbotts-school-voucher-ally-pulls-in-big-money-for-hd118-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/179955\/","title":{"rendered":"Abbott’s school voucher ally pulls in big money for HD118 race"},"content":{"rendered":"

A deluge of spending and attack ads are suddenly raining down on two San Antonio-area state legislative races that previously weren\u2019t getting much attention.<\/p>\n

Campaign finance reports covering Jan. 23 through Feb. 21 were due Monday, detailing money raised and spent by campaigns and outside groups in the month leading up to early voting.<\/p>\n

They showed state and national PACs pouring money into a GOP primary on the South Side, where Republicans are choosing between a school voucher architect and a trial lawyer as their nominee to replace state Rep. John Lujan<\/a> (R-San Antonio).<\/p>\n

Meanwhile in another district, longtime Democratic state Rep. Liz Campos<\/a> (D-San Antonio is spending big to fend off a 25-year-old challenger whose family has deep political connections, and could benefit from the surge of new Democratic primary voters<\/a> turning out to vote.<\/p>\n

In the Republican primary, the most recent reports showed a surprise uptick in spending for Jorge Borrego<\/a>, a 30-year-old former think tank scholar who helped craft Gov. Greg Abbott\u2019s landmark Education Savings Account program<\/a> in the last legislative session.<\/p>\n

Borrego worked on education policy at the Austin-based think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation, and is now one of three Republicans seeking their party\u2019s nomination in House District 118.<\/p>\n

Meet the candidates running to represent San Antonio in the Texas Legislature.<\/a><\/p>\n

That race once seemed all but sewn up for attorney Desi Martinez<\/a>, who Lujan recruited to run for his old seat, but who now faces a barrage of attack from Borrego\u2019s deep-pocketed supporters.<\/p>\n

A national school choice group, AFC Victory Fund, is on TV with ads<\/a> depicting Martinez on an Obama-era hope poster, and criticizing him for having run as a Democrat in the past<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Martinez\u2019s campaign said he does support school vouchers \u2014 a defining issue in last cycle\u2019s GOP primaries<\/a> \u2014 but one that\u2019s hardly been discussed this cycle since they were approved in the last session<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Similar attacks are flying from the statewide group Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), which accounted for the vast majority of Borrego\u2019s surprising $360,000 haul on the latest campaign finance reports<\/a>. TLR is spending big to elect candidates<\/a> who support tort reform, and opposing trial lawyer candidates from within the Republican Party.<\/p>\n

Now Borrego is getting help from Abbott, who will campaign alongside him at Texas Pride Barbecue on Thursday morning<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile Martinez\u2019s campaign is scrambling to play defense against a candidate who didn\u2019t seem particularly threatening a few months ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unprecedented,\u201d said Republican consultant Greg Brockhouse, who is helping Martinez\u2019s campaign. \u201cJorge Borrego moved into the district just to run, he didn\u2019t have a very vast history in the community \u2026 the cash is coming not from residents or voters, but special interests. \u2026 It\u2019s rich guys out of Austin who want to buy a seat.\u201d <\/p>\n

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

Records show that Borrego owns a home in College Station, which was listed as his address as recently as last October. But the candidate says he hasn\u2019t lived there for many years, and commuted from San Antonio to Austin while working at the think tank in Austin.<\/p>\n

\u201cI moved here when I was 18 to go to UTSA,\u201d Borrego told the Report. \u201cI met my wife who was a fifth generation to be born here in San Antonio, and I have called San Antonio home for over 12 years now. My children were born here and baptized here.\u201d <\/p>\n

The rare swing seat<\/p>\n

As it stands, Lujan, is the only Republican to ever win Texas House District 118<\/a> \u2014 one of the few truly competitive seats on the state legislative map.<\/p>\n

The politically moderate former firefighter fended off more than $1 million in attacks<\/a> from Democrats trying to flip it back in 2024, and after deciding to run for Congress this year, took great pains to find a candidate he believed could hold his old seat.<\/p>\n

Martinez runs the rare Southside law firm, where he\u2019s been able to give millions to charitable causes as tax write-offs from his business. And in a blue stronghold that\u2019s only recently shifted right, his story of switching parties made him a compelling recruit.<\/p>\n

Lujan introduced Martinez to GOP leaders in the Texas House, and opened up a shared campaign office<\/a> to prepare for their difficult November elections.<\/p>\n

But in a primary where TLR has<\/a> made tort reform the number one issue, Brockhouse said that even local GOP leaders couldn\u2019t talk the group out of opposing a candidate leaders hoped would give the party its best shot in November.<\/p>\n

Martinez went from leading the cash race to bringing in only about half as much<\/a> as Borrego between Jan. 23 and Feb. 21. While Borrego got help from state and national PACs, Martinez leaned hard on in-kind contribution from the owner of the Missions\u2019 Open Air Market and San Antonio trial attorneys David Volk\u00a0and Jeff Davis.<\/p>\n

\u201c[TLR is] muddying the waters on one single issue,\u201d Brockhouse said. \u201cThey\u2019re pumping cash in to really scare voters, and the whole message is against Desi Martinez, solely because he\u2019s a lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Texas House District 118 candidate Desi Martinez speaks to guests during a luncheon hosted by Bexar County Republican Women on Feb. 13, 2026. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

TLR CEO Ryan Patrick said in a statement that his group likes Borrego because he understands their issues, and \u201cis committed to policies that promote accountability in the courts and encourage job creation across Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Kristian Carranza<\/a>, who lost to Lujan by roughly 3.5 points in 2024. State and national Democratic groups are already planning to target<\/a> the race again in 2026.<\/p>\n

Democrats rattled by new voters<\/p>\n

In a different late-breaking primary, the most recent campaign finance reports indicated Campos is spending big against a little-known Democratic primary challenger.<\/p>\n

Campos has represented the Southwest side<\/a> since 2020. Her opponent, Ryan Ayala<\/a>, is a 25-year-old attorney and first-time candidate.<\/p>\n

\"\"Rep. Elizabeth Campos, candidate for Texas House District 119, speaks at the Tejano Democrats SD26 endorsement forum at Luby\u2019s on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Credit: Salgu Wissmath for the San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

\"\"Ryan Ayala, candidate for Texas House District 119, speaks at the Northeast Bexar County Democrats endorsement forum at Unity Church on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 in San Antonio. Credit: Salgu Wissmath for the San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

But opposition to Trump has fueled a rise of first-time Democratic primary voters<\/a>, and Campos\u2019 campaign is now leaving nothing to chance.<\/p>\n

She brought in $180,000<\/a> and spent $115,000 in the month before early voting, according to the most recent reports.<\/p>\n

Ads from her campaign depict suckling piglets on mailers that say Ayala\u2019s family of lobbyists and political insiders have helped their own family businesses benefit from public contracts.<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Another ad, sent via text message<\/a> on Tuesday, says that Bexar County political consultant Joann Ramon is using her grandson, Ayala, to gain political power on the Southside.<\/p>\n

Ayala rejected both criticisms, saying Campos is making the race personal to distract from the legislature\u2019s lack of action on issues voters care about.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ran because I wanted to help my community out, but now it\u2019s turned into a smear campaign,\u201d Ayala told the Report. \u201cThey have nothing to smear [me] because I\u2019m only 25 and I\u2019m just starting out, so they\u2019re going after my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ayala has put roughly $100,000<\/a> into his own race, a combination of personal and family money. He spent $52,000 in the final stretch, and is running ads<\/a> that call Campos a lapdog of Texas GOP leaders.<\/p>\n

Campos responded with a statement<\/a> Tuesday saying that she\u2019s taken no money from Republicans.<\/p>\n

Her biggest contributors include $54,000 from a PAC aligned with Las Vegas Sands, which wants to legalize casino gambling in Texas. She also brought in $10,000 from a pro-charter school PAC and $20,000 from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.<\/p>\n

Texas House District 122<\/p>\n

State Rep.\u00a0Mark Dorazio<\/a>\u00a0(R-San Antonio), a member of the GOP\u2019s conservative wing, is also in an unexpectedly expensive primary in\u00a0Texas House District 122<\/a>. He raised $96,000 and spent $320,000<\/a> in the month before early voting.<\/p>\n

He faces a challenge from Republican\u00a0Willie Ng<\/a>, a security company owner, who is also getting big help from tort reform supporters and groups in favor of casino gambling. He raised $365,000<\/a> and spent $150,000.<\/p>\n

\"\"State Rep. Marc LaHood speaks to guests during a luncheon hosted by Bexar County Republican Women on Feb. 13, 2026. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Texas House District 121<\/p>\n

State Rep.\u00a0Marc LaHood<\/a>\u00a0(R-San Antonio) brought in $712,000<\/a>, spent about $600,000 and reported about $350,000 on hand. He collected big checks from the PAC aligned with Las Vegas Sands, House Speaker Dustin Burrows and trial law firms.<\/p>\n

This race has long been expensive and attention-grabbing<\/a>, but the spending has actually slowed in the final stretch, as TLR\u2019s new leadership appears to be backing off uphill races against incumbents.<\/p>\n

LaHood\u2019s GOP primary challenger, Terrell Hills business consultant\u00a0David McArthur<\/a>, raised $125,000, spent $140,000 and reported $33,000 on hand<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Texas House District 125<\/p>\n

In the race to replace retiring state Rep. Ray Lopez (D-San Antonio)<\/a>, SAISD teachers\u2019 union leader\u00a0Adrian Reyna<\/a> is pulling away from the pack in fundraising. Reyna raised<\/a> about $15,000 and spent $20,000 on the most recent reports.<\/p>\n

Lopez\u2019s chief of staff\u00a0Donovon Rodriguez<\/a>\u00a0raised $2,700<\/a> and spent about $800. The other two Democrats, former Bexar County Constable\u00a0Michelle Barrientes Vela<\/a>\u00a0and realtor Carlos Antonio Raymond<\/a>, raised and spent very little.<\/p>\n

Texas House District 120<\/p>\n

State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins<\/a> (D-San Antonio) raised $65,000<\/a>, spent $20,000 and reported roughly $110,000 on hand.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s in a three-way Democratic primary where her biggest challenger Jordan Brown<\/a> raised $20,000<\/a>, spent about $30,000 and reported $6,000 on hand.<\/p>\n

Texas House District 117<\/p>\n

State Rep. Phil Cortez\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0(D-San Antonio) massively outraised his Democratic challenger, bringing in $62,000, spending $90,000 and reporting another $90,000 on hand<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Attorney\u00a0Robert Mihara<\/a> brought in $2,600<\/a>, spent $13,000 and reported $4,000 on hand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A deluge of spending and attack ads are suddenly raining down on two San Antonio-area state legislative races…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":179956,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[8519,62324,62325,53282,32343,58722,82,84,83,32625,72202,92,3028],"class_list":{"0":"post-179955","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-antonio","8":"tag-2026-election","9":"tag-desi-martinez","10":"tag-jorge-borrego","11":"tag-liz-campos","12":"tag-march-3-primary","13":"tag-ryan-ayala","14":"tag-san-antonio","15":"tag-san-antonio-headlines","16":"tag-san-antonio-news","17":"tag-texas-house-district-118","18":"tag-texas-house-district-119","19":"tag-top-story","20":"tag-typedaily"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179955","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=179955"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179955\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}