Bexar County District Lawyer Joe Gonzales, a Democrat recognized for his progressive justice insurance policies, won’t search reelection in 2026.
“As I method the top of my second time period, I’m confronted with a tough choice,” Gonzales instructed reporters Thursday. “This job calls for the most effective I can provide it. Nevertheless it additionally calls for extraordinary persistence from my household. They’ve been unbelievably supportive of my public service. And it’s for that motive I’m making the choice to now assist them.”
The announcement comes as Choose Ron Rangel, a Democrat within the 379th Legal District Court docket, had been rumored to be contemplating a main problem.
Rangel instructed the San Antonio Report final week he’s been inspired to run for the district legal professional submit and was contemplating his choices.
Gonzales was first elected in 2018, operating on a platform of restorative justice and benefitting from roughly $1 million from liberal billionaire George Soros’ Texas Justice & Public Security political motion committee, which helped him defeat incumbent Democrat Nico LaHood in a main.
Gonzales went on to institute one of many hallmarks of his profession: A controversial cite-and-release program that proponents say retains non-violent, low-level offenders from serving time in jail, however that critics have referred to as “delicate on crime.”
He additionally often sought to make Bexar County a refuge from polices popping out of the state’s Republican-led Texas Legislature, declining to prosecute transgender care as little one abuse or go after abortion suppliers within the wake of the state’s near-total abortion ban.
These insurance policies helped earn him a well-funded problem from Republican Marc LaHood in 2022, however Gonzales was reelected simply in a blue county with 56% of the vote.
Since then, nevertheless, Gonzales has confronted persistent criticism for failing to handle a prolonged case backlog, in addition to his workers’s extraordinarily shut relationship with justice reform group Wren Collective.
The state has additionally repeatedly sought to crack down on “rogue” district attorneys and take away from workplace people who step out of line.
Final month Gonzales joined district attorneys in Dallas and Harris counties in suing Texas Lawyer Common Ken Paxton over the newest of these makes an attempt.
Requested concerning the criticism he’s acquired over case backlog and the Wren Collective, Gonzales stated Thursday that neither problem factored into his choice.
“These points have been nothing greater than distractions,” he instructed reporters. “Folks which can be supportive of our workplace and know what we do understood that was nothing greater than soundbites and large clicks.”
He additionally blamed a “lack of assets” to pay prosecutors for the challenges with the case backlog.
“We’re, proper now, about 30 prosecutors down, as a result of they hold leaving for jobs in smaller counties,” Gonzales stated. “I don’t blame someone for leaving for $30,000 extra a yr to work in a county that has much less of a docket, so there’s much less stress and more cash.”
‘Not in the best way’
Gonzales plans to serve out the remaining 18 months of his time period, however stated he wished to supply different candidates sufficient time to arrange for the race.
He and Rangel share a marketing campaign consulting agency, San Antonio-based Viva Politics.
“I need to depart on a excessive observe, and in order that’s why I’m doing this now,” Gonzales stated. “I’m giving anyone who’s bought an curiosity in operating for this workplace a chance to use for an open seat. I’m not in the best way. I’m going to step apart.”
In a nod to the difficult nature of the job, nevertheless, Gonzales warned potential successors that it’s “simpler from the surface wanting in.”
“It’s not till you really sit in my workplace and sit in my chair that you simply understand how tough this job is.”
