We recommend Josey Garcia for a third term representing Texas House District 124.<\/p>\n
The first female active-duty veteran <\/a>to be elected to the Texas House, Garcia, a Democrat, has been a conscientious and engaged representative for a district that includes parts of the West and Southwest sides, including Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland\u00a0and Port San Antonio.<\/p>\n In a rematch of the 2024 race<\/a>, Garcia faces Republican Sylvia Soto<\/a>, an impressive and thoughtful math and science teacher who is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and who is working on her fifth master\u2019s degree. She opposes the school voucher system as it is currently constructed and is pro-choice when it comes to abortion.<\/p>\n But Garcia is a rising star in Texas politics with a demonstrated understanding of the issues and a knack for making her arguments with emotional force.<\/p>\n One admirable quality of Garcia\u2019s brief time in the House is how her background and experiences inform her work as a legislator. She has a compelling personal story, having been a foster child who lived in five states and attended 13 schools before entering high school.<\/p>\n The U.S. Air Force and San Antonio are how and where she found security, family and a home. A combat veteran, Garcia was an adviser to the Iraqi military on a joint operation with the Army special forces and Iraqi special forces, and served in Panama and Cameroon on\u00a0medical humanitarian missions.<\/p>\n Not surprising, her legislative priorities include improving the foster care system, addressing veterans affairs, and prioritizing the needs of retirees and working families.<\/p>\n A mother of eight, Garcia opposes school vouchers and described Gov. Greg Abbott\u2019s border security actions, known as Operation Lone Star, as performative.<\/p>\n