Democrats hold on to redistricted House seat in Texas

Johnny Garcia (D) is projected to win the race to represent Texas’s 35th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

The district, which was redrawn in the GOP’s favor during a mid-decade redistricting effort led by state Republicans, is represented by Rep. Greg Casar (D). It includes the suburbs of San Antonio and surrounding communities and has a majority-Hispanic population, as well as a large military community.

Garcia, the deputy sheriff in Bexar County, defeated Republican nominee Carlos De La Cruz, an Air Force veteran and brother of Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R).

The Democrat led De La Cruz by nearly 14 percentage points — 56.9 to 43.2 percent — with 52 percent of the vote reported by DDHQ as of 12:34 a.m. Wednesday.

The Democrat campaigned on lowering rising costs of living in the state, preventing lawmakers from trading stocks, expanding access to affordable housing, securing the southern border and restricting new data center developments in the state.

He was supported by Casar, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (D).

Garcia has repeatedly criticized the Trump administration’s military operations against Iran and the deaths of service members during this conflict and resulting rise in fuel and living costs.

“No more endless wars,” he wrote in a social media post at the end of August. “I’m running because our troops and their families deserve better.”