When most of his Democratic colleagues decamped to Illinois to cease President Donald Trump’s redistricting plan final month, state Rep. Philip Cortez (D-San Antonio) was one of many few members of his social gathering nonetheless displaying up for work on the Texas Capitol.
Now not less than one fellow Democrat hopes to capitalize off Cortez’ absence from the quorum break by leaping into the 2026 Democratic main in Texas Home District 117.
The race might make Cortez the newest in an extended line of political moderates whose districts had been made safer for his or her social gathering after the 2020 census — and opened them as much as new main threats within the course of.
Robert Mihara, a U.S. Military veteran and West Level graduate, filed a marketing campaign treasurer’s report in February signaling curiosity within the race however will maintain a proper marketing campaign kickoff on the Cove this month, aimed toward capitalizing on Cortez’ resolution at a time when different Democrats are taking a victory lap on delaying Texas’ new congressional maps.
“I do have clearly different the reason why I’m operating, however in my thoughts, the quorum break was a impetus to behave extra aggressively,” mentioned Mihara, 48, who’s at the moment operating a San Antonio nonprofit that gives authorized providers for low-income and at-risk purchasers. “ … At a second that demanded braveness, he selected comfort.”
Cortez, 47, first gained the Southwest state Home district when it was a swing district fought over by Republicans and Democrats alike.
The Air Power veteran defeated a Republican incumbent in 2012, misplaced to a GOP challenger in 2014, and gained it again for his social gathering in 2016.
However the district was redrawn to favor Democrats by a large margin in 2021, and like many different political centrists in a gerrymandered state, Cortez’s once-celebrated relationships throughout the aisle at the moment are trying like a double-edged sword.
As Mihara put it, “within the given scenario the place the GOP in Texas particularly is susceptible to abuse of energy … [Cortez’s] method gained’t work anymore.”
Democrats in misery
After main losses in November, already outnumbered Texas Democrats have few levers of energy left to push again on insurance policies they don’t like.
The GOP’s redistricting plan is prone to be authorized by the Republican-controlled Home any day now that Democrats have returned to the capitol this week.
However Democratic leaders say that leaving the state allowed their counterparts in blue states to strategize their very own mid-cycle redistricting plans and make up congressional seats misplaced in Texas.
Cortez contends that despite the fact that he didn’t be part of colleagues in Illinois, he absolutely supported their effort and had the blessing of Democratic leaders to remain behind.
“This 12 months issues have modified by way of my household life — my spouse and I welcomed a new child child lady — and logistically, it was tough for me to depart the state for an prolonged period of time,” Cortez mentioned.
“I allow them to know that I wasn’t capable of break quorum, however I used to be going to face with them and do every thing I can to cease [Republicans’ redistricting effort].”
However Cortez has taken loads of criticism for his closeness to GOP leaders, together with one other notable defection from a quorum break in 2021 to barter on Republicans’ controversial election safety proposals.
“I used to be informed by the Republican management at the moment that we will work out some compromises, that they had been prepared to present floor on a few these items of laws,” Cortez recalled of that call this week. “After I arrived, I used to be met with a special message and a special understanding … so I went again to D.C. and joined my colleagues.”
To Mihara, these selections are at odds with a Democratic Occasion that desperately must make voters conscious of what Republicans are doing and current an compelling different.
“A part of the explanation why I’m operating is my perception that the consultant that we’ve in Austin must be a fighter by nature,” he mentioned.
Criticism apart, Cortez mentioned he’s elevating cash and gearing up for a seventh time period.
“I vote for what I consider is the very best curiosity of my district,” Cortez mentioned of his apolitical method. “I strive to take a look at each public coverage [through the lens of] the influence it’s going to should my senior residents, influence to my veterans.”
Cortez reported about $71,000 readily available as of July 15. Mihara loaned his marketing campaign some seed cash, and reported about $2,000 readily available.
Candidate submitting for the March main opens November 8.
