As Democrats nationally attempt to flip the script on crime, they may quickly lean on longtime Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy throwing his title within the hat for an uphill congressional race.
“I see the present administration utilizing legislation enforcement, my occupation, as a political weapon to divide communities relatively than uniting them,” mentioned Johnny Garcia, a veteran deputy with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Workplace and its present public data officer.
Garcia introduced plans to run for the newly redrawn Texas thirty fifth Congressional District Thursday night at Taqueria Mexico on the South Facet.
The district was dramatically reshaped underneath a redistricting plan that’s being challenged in courtroom, and will play a key function in Republican efforts to achieve extra congressional seats in Texas in the course of the 2026 election cycle.
Whereas quite a few Republicans have lined up for the job, to date Democrats, who’ve a deep bench of elected officers in San Antonio haven’t proven a lot curiosity.
Garcia mentioned he was motivated by tariff insurance policies threatening jobs, households fighting well being care and his distaste for the Trump administration’s method to legislation enforcement.
“Every single day in my job, I inform the general public, ‘In case you see one thing, say one thing. Properly, I see one thing, and I’m saying one thing tonight,” Garcia advised supporters Thursday.
The present district — which connects city areas between Austin and San Antonio — is represented by U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin), an outspoken progressive who’s working in a extra Austin-centric seat after being drawn out of the district.
The brand new map would shift the district southward to incorporate extra exurban parts of Bexar County, creating a possibility for Republicans in a district that was as soon as solidly blue.
As the present PIO for the sheriff’s workplace, Garcia’s path mirrors that of his boss, Sheriff Javier Salazar, who spent 23 years as a San Antonio Police Officer, ending his profession because the communications director previous to working for public workplace in 2016.
Salazar, the uncommon progressive sheriff, went on to grow to be one of the vital efficient communicators among the many county’s elected officers, one thing he credit partially to his time as a PIO.
“Over my 32 12 months profession… No job over there ready me greater than after I was the spokesman,” Salazar mentioned whereas introducing Garcia on the occasion.
Garcia mentioned he plans to leverage his expertise as a PIO to deliver “a public service state of mind” to the race, emphasizing transparency and accessibility.
He additionally referred to as his seven years as Salazar’s spokesman nice coaching for the job: “Answering robust questions, being clear and pursuing fact.”
Not like his boss, Garcia mentioned he’s extra of an “an old-school Democrat,” centered on restoring “old-school Democratic ideas” and delivering for working and middle-class households.
He additionally made certain to spotlight his lengthy profession on the enforcement facet earlier than shifting over to communications.
“I’ve served this neighborhood, patrolling rural areas of Bexar County, working within the jail, defending and serving, after which transferring out to patrol,” Garcia mentioned. “This isn’t overseas to me. This neighborhood isn’t overseas to me, each city or rural.”
The redrawn district is roughly break up between white and Latino voters, with about half of the voters residing in Bexar County.
President Donald Trump would have carried the district by 10 share factors, and a few Democrats fear it’s grow to be more difficult than it appears on paper, due to the low voting propensity of the district’s voters of shade.
“I do know it’s a tall order, however on the finish of the day, on a regular basis Texans are dealing with the identical realities — increased grocery payments, fuel, well being care and housing that’s simply out of attain,” Garcia mentioned. ”That interprets to each side of the aisle.”
If he makes it by way of the Democratic major, Garcia may go up in opposition to a well-known face.
State Rep. John Lujan (R-San Antonio), who flipped a aggressive South Facet Home district in recent times, is working, as is enterprise proprietor Chris Schuchardt.
On the Democratic facet, former mayoral hopeful Beto Altamirano can also be contemplating the race.
Candidate submitting for the 2026 major election is predicted to open Nov. 8, pending remaining courtroom approval of Texas’ congressional maps.
