{"id":482293,"date":"2026-10-31T10:36:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T10:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/482293\/"},"modified":"2026-10-31T10:36:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T10:36:20","slug":"young-latino-mayor-in-south-texas-struggles-with-supporting-paxton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/482293\/","title":{"rendered":"Young Latino mayor in South Texas struggles with supporting Paxton"},"content":{"rendered":"

Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our AI policy<\/a>, and give us feedback<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SABINAL \u2014 Erik Gomez, one of the youngest mayors in Texas, has modeled his budding career after Republicans like U.S. Sen. John Cornyn<\/a>, a man he admires and wanted to win reelection this year.<\/p>\n

So the 26-year-old rising Latino leader used every ounce of his modest political capital to help Cornyn defeat Attorney General Ken Paxton<\/a> in the Republican primary.<\/p>\n

A year ago, the Cornyn campaign blasted<\/a> a fundraising email with a plea penned by Gomez, who lauded the senior senator for his efforts to secure the Texas-Mexico border. In March, Gomez stumped<\/a> on the campaign trail at an event<\/a> where he told primary voters<\/a> he wanted \u201cto keep Texas red\u201d and \u201cif Paxton wins it won\u2019t be.\u201d In the final days leading to the May runoff, Gomez issued a starker warning about Paxton on social media<\/a> taking aim at his various scandals that include an impeachment led by Texas House Republicans over allegations that the state\u2019s top lawyer abused his office. He was acquitted by the Senate.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was doing right by Texas. But there\u2019s some people you can\u2019t make happy, unfortunately, \u201d Gomez said in an interview, of Cornyn\u2019s 27-point primary loss to Paxton.<\/p>\n

Voters like Gomez will play a crucial role during Tuesday\u2019s historically competitive midterm election deciding which party controls the state and, potentially, Congress. They voted for a candidate who lost<\/a>. As Latinos, they are members of Texas\u2019s largest ethnic voter bloc. They identify as conservative.<\/p>\n

And some of them really don\u2019t like Ken Paxton. <\/p>\n

\"GomezGomez outside of his home in Sabinal on Oct. 6. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

After Cornyn\u2019s defeat, Gomez began opening up to the idea of supporting Paxton. He at times defended<\/a> the attorney general\u2019s attempts to earn the support of Cornyn voters, revealing Paxton surrogates had contacted him to chat. But it remains a sore subject. Gomez has cast his ballot, but in interviews he refused to say how he voted at the top of the ticket.<\/p>\n

Early voting tallies<\/a> suggest Latino Texans are turning out in high numbers. What that means is yet to be seen.<\/p>\n

Two years ago President Donald Trump won the Latino vote in Texas with a new record for Republicans. Those gains are at stake for Republicans, as an abundance of polls have documented buyer\u2019s remorse among Hispanics amid an unpopular new war, high costs of goods and a punishing immigration crackdown. A swing back to the left could imperil Republicans up and down the ballot and establish a divided state government in Texas for the first time in 24 years. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe challenge has been for Republicans, in the cycle, not to lose too many voters in a campaign environment that\u2019s really not favorable to them,\u201d said Joshua Blank, of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. \u201cIn an election like this, it\u2019s going to be about a lot of tiny margins.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gomez, who is the top elected official of Sabinal, a conservative town of 1,300 people an hour west of San Antonio, considers himself a lifelong Republican \u2014 albeit a young one. <\/p>\n

He has never seen so many people he knows personally vote for Democrats. One cousin who he described as, \u201cfar right\u201d voted straight Republican with one notable exception \u2014\u00a0James Talarico<\/a> for U.S. Senate. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s baffling and frustrating for Gomez who is among the Republicans who believes Cornyn could have easily defeated the Austin Democrat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis could have all been avoided,\u201d Gomez said. \u201cHad we, you know, been more careful with who we nominate.\u201d<\/p>\n

A young mayor<\/p>\n

Gomez grew up splitting his time between Uvalde and Sabinal after his parents divorced at a young age, he said. He was a top offensive lineman on the Sabinal High School\u2019s football team and remembers driving around with friends, playing in the park and hitting up Dairy Queen to pass time. At 18, he pursued a career in law enforcement. Gomez serves as a U.S. Border Patrol agent, however, he declined to talk about his law enforcement work for this story. <\/p>\n

\"\"Sabinal is a small town near Uvalde, about 60 miles west of San Antonio. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

By 22, as he started dipping his toes into the chamber of commerce and local clubs, city council appointed him<\/a> to fill a vacancy. He rapidly ascended to mayor pro tem and then was appointed temporary mayor<\/a>, when the previous mayor stepped down. Gomez then ran unopposed for a full term, which he won in May<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At 24, he became the youngest sitting mayor in Texas at the time, according to recognitions he received, a feat Republican leaders celebrated in perhaps a sign of what the party\u2019s future in Texas could look like. Cornyn recognized him with a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol. Separately, President Donald Trump wrote him a letter at one point. Gomez keeps both in his home, which was adorned with Halloween decor during a recent interview with the Tribune. His garage is filled with political campaign signs he once had on his lawn.<\/p>\n

\u201cMayor Gomez represents the next generation of Texas leadership: bold, principled, and deeply rooted in the values that make rural Texas strong,\u201d outgoing Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller<\/a> wrote in his endorsements page<\/a>, touting Gomez\u2019s support before he lost his primary. \u201cSabinal may be small in size, but it\u2019s mighty in spirit \u2014 and Mayor Gomez embodies that spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gomez says he is just trying to do right by the people he serves in Sabinal, a majority Hispanic city whose tallest building is the water tower and has a downtown set for a facelift<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Most of his headaches, like mayors across Texas, come from problems like new potholes that need to be filled and limited funds that can only patch so many holes. The opportunity to fix things for the small town he grew up in drew him into politics.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople can sit there and complain all day,\u201d he said, sitting in his kitchen after work one day. \u201cBut if you\u2019re involved, you actually have the power and the ability to make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

To many in town, the young mayor is getting things done for Sabinal. <\/p>\n

\"NationalNational Night Out in Sabinal on Oct. 6. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

\"ChildrenChildren dance during National Night Out. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

\"PrizesPrizes for kids at the National Night Out event in Sabinal. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

\"MayorMayor Gomez and his fiancee Regina Vasquez during National Night Out festivities. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

One of Gomez\u2019s first tangible wins as a new mayor was securing a grant<\/a> for $50,000 to overhaul an aging playground in a park that did not have functioning lights, he said.<\/p>\n

The revamped park served as the site for a recent national night out, where families gathered with their kids trying to win raffles for toys and bikes, playing on the renovated playground and slurping shaved ice off spoons dripping with multi-colored syrups. <\/p>\n

Gomez walked around with his girlfriend, shaking hands and posing for photos.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn high school, he used to always tell us that one day he\u2019s going to be mayor of Sabinal,\u201d said Ryan Reyes, a 26-year-old who grew up with Gomez. Their moms worked together at a pharmacy, and they became good friends after meeting each other as little children at a carnival. \u201cI\u2019ve watched him turn into a man. I don\u2019t know how to describe it \u2014 he has just matured a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Republican\u2019s ruminations<\/p>\n

Months after the primary, as Gomez mulled the future of Republicans in Texas, he was reminded again of Cornyn\u2019s character. <\/p>\n

The outgoing senator condemned<\/a> a racist social media post from GOP nominee for railroad commission Bo French.<\/p>\n

French, who has a long history of offensive social media posts, had shared a picture on X of South Asian students from the University of Texas at Austin, celebrating a Longhorns football victory with the caption, \u201cI heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn\u2019t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornyn suggested other Republicans should condemn French and later said he would not vote for him. <\/p>\n

\"U.S.U.S. Sen. John Cornyn appears at a Get Out the Vote rally at Serranos in Austin on Feb. 17, 2026. Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

Gomez applauded the disavowment, but was puzzled that other top Republicans did not follow suit with equally stern castigations. While some GOP officials condemned French, few said<\/a> they would pluck their support at the ballot box<\/a>. Paxton said in a statement<\/a> at the time he condemned all racism, but did not name French and instead attacked Talarico.<\/p>\n

On social media, Gomez asked<\/a> how he is supposed to pitch his party to his Hispanic-majority city.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also don\u2019t know how to tell them to vote for our Republican candidates who refuse to condemn this racism. Fellow Republicans \u2014 send help,\u201d he said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After he voted early, Gomez told the Tribune he voted for French\u2019s opponent Jon Rosenthal<\/a>. <\/p>\n

But his distaste for Paxton and French is contained. He remains a fan of Gov. Greg Abbott<\/a> and President Donald Trump. In his home, he has a framed photo of former President George W. Bush, next to a bobble head of Trump; in between he has a stone with the Pledge of Allegiance etched on it. <\/p>\n

\"GomezGomez holds a poster from his mayoral campaign. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

\"\"Gomez displays a letter from President Trump. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

\"AA certificate from the United States Senate recognizes the Mayor of Sabinal Erik Gomez as the youngest mayor in Texas. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

Gomez wishes the Republican Party would return to issues that matter to voters, like affordability. And Gomez considers himself a moderate. <\/p>\n

\u201cI know that\u2019s a very ugly word right now in the Republican Party,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

He understands fears some conservatives hold about Islam, but questions how that is a more pressing issue than affording gas. <\/p>\n

\u201c2024 is a perfect example. You have the Democrats talking, you know, going crazy over trans rights, we had an open border, horrible open border,\u201d he said. \u201c2026 comes and, you know, we\u2019re the ones that are out of touch with reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paxton and Talarico have tried to woo voters who might similarly find themselves in the middle. A day after Paxton unseated Cornyn in the primary, Talarico hit the road<\/a> to highlight Paxton\u2019s alleged corruption in a tour dubbed \u201cThe People vs. Ken Paxton.\u201d The state representative began repeating the refrain, \u201cI have a legislative record. Ken Paxton has a criminal record.\u201d<\/p>\n

Top Republicans tried to boost Paxton by preaching unity for the party ticket. Even state Sen. Angela Paxton<\/a>, who is divorcing the attorney general over allegations of infidelity, told voters to support every Republican<\/a> on the ticket. Meanwhile, Ken Paxton tried to cast Talarico as a radical who will threaten Texas\u2019 prosperity.<\/p>\n

Gomez said Paxton representatives contacted him but did not elaborate on the extent of conversations. <\/p>\n

He is surprised by his Republican friends who are backing Talarico, but acknowledges that the Democrat has \u201cswag\u201d and has run a campaign centered on specific issues.<\/p>\n

In interviews, Gomez was unwilling to discuss whether Paxton earned his vote. In a previous interview weeks ago, he said he planned to support Republicans in the important races. <\/p>\n

By last week, he sounded less sure. During a telephone interview, someone knocked on his door. It was a volunteer with America PAC, Elon Musk\u2019s super PAC that has invested tens of millions<\/a> into boosting Paxton.<\/p>\n

The volunteer encouraged Gomez to vote. The mayor told him he had already cast his ballot early. <\/p>\n

Returning to his interview about whether Paxton had earned his vote, Gomez was resolute: \u201cYou can quote me on this: No comment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The sun sets on the water tower in Sabinal, the tallest structure in town. Brenda Baz\u00e1n for The Texas Tribune<\/p>\n

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin has been a major financial supporter of The Texas Tribune. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in our journalism. Find a complete list of them and more information about our financial and disclosure policies here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our AI policy, and give…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":482294,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[2133,145,21219,392,2135,3309,26901,1967,51280,7913,2424,132604,27,29,28],"class_list":["post-482293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-democrats","tag-donald-trump","tag-george-w-bush","tag-greg-abbott","tag-james-talarico","tag-john-cornyn","tag-jon-rosenthal","tag-ken-paxton","tag-photo-build","tag-photography","tag-republicans","tag-sabinal","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482293","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=482293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482293\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/482294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=482293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=482293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=482293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}