Texas's 35th District: A Nonpartisan Guide to the Nov. 3 Election

How To Use This Guide

1. Pick the issues you care about. Rank the two or three that matter most to you.
2. Find which office handles them. The U.S. House and U.S. Senate write federal law and set the federal budget, and the Senate also confirms federal judges and approves treaties. The local measures on this ballot set school and city taxes and borrowing.
3. Compare the candidates. Read where each candidate stands on your top issues, then read the candidates’ own words and who funds each campaign.

The U.S. House Race

What This Office Does

U.S. House members serve two-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. All bills that raise taxes must start in the House. The 35th District runs from parts of Bexar County east into rural Guadalupe, Karnes and Wilson counties. Local coverage has focused on its military community and on how Latino voters who shifted toward Republicans in 2024 will vote.

The district uses a map the Texas Legislature drew in 2025, so its lines differ from 2024. A federal panel blocked the map, and the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Texas to use it for 2026 on Dec. 4, 2025.

Candidates In Brief

Republican Carlos De La Cruz Jr. retired after 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, including deployments to the Middle East as an explosive-detection dog handler and later in intelligence, according to the San Antonio Report. De La Cruz lists securing the border and countering cartels, cutting federal spending and expanding energy production, and caring for veterans and supporting law enforcement as top priorities. The campaign website is carlosforcongress.com.

Democrat Johnny Garcia is a lifelong resident of San Antonio’s West Side who spent about 20 years at the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, including as a hostage negotiator and spokesperson. Garcia lists lowering everyday costs by ending tariffs, making health care affordable, and housing and child care as top priorities. The campaign website is votejohnnygarcia.com. Neither candidate is an incumbent.

Where They Stand

Cost of living. De La Cruz would cut federal spending, expand American energy production and reduce regulations on small businesses, and said at the Oct. 9 forum that current tariffs are “way too broad” and should be more “strategic.” Garcia would end “reckless tariffs” on groceries and appliances, modernize the energy supply to lower utility bills and favor tax relief for working families over corporate tax breaks.

Health care. De La Cruz backs more competition, price transparency and coverage options for small businesses, and opposes a one-size-fits-all federal approach. Garcia would reverse congressional cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies, add dental, vision and hearing coverage to Medicare and crack down on drug price gouging.

Housing. De La Cruz says government should “clear obstacles, reward work, and let Americans build, so families can afford a home, raise their kids, and pass something on to the next generation.” Garcia would crack down on private equity companies buying homes, make construction faster and cheaper and expand the Child Tax Credit.

Immigration. De La Cruz backs legal, orderly immigration, finishing border security infrastructure, targeting cartels and fixing the backlogged legal immigration system. Garcia backs bipartisan reform pairing border security with pathways to citizenship, work visas and fully funded immigration courts.

Abortion. De La Cruz’s campaign platform says, “Standing up for the dignity of human life. Every child deserves a chance.”

Climate and energy. De La Cruz calls for “American Energy Dominance,” rolling back “radical green regulations” to prioritize energy independence, lower prices and Texas jobs. Garcia would modernize the energy supply to lower utility bills and keep data centers from raising costs.

Foreign policy. Garcia says the U.S. should rebuild trust and cooperation with its southern neighbors.

Stock trading. De La Cruz pledged to vote for a ban on members of Congress trading stocks. Garcia pledged not to trade stocks in Congress and to work to ban the practice for all members.

Military community. De La Cruz would seek an Armed Services Committee seat. Garcia called moving Army North and Army South out of San Antonio “a personal attack” and “like a gut punch to folks,” and pledged to fight cuts to veteran disability benefits.

Hispanic voters and redistricting. De La Cruz says Hispanic voters are more culturally conservative and that “swing voters care about candidates’ vision and values above their party affiliation.” Garcia calls the new map a gerrymander “created to silence Latino, black and minority voters” that will backfire.

In Their Own Words

Carlos De La Cruz Jr., at the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce candidate forum moderated by Texas Public Radio, Friday, Oct. 9:

“I would try and get onto our Armed Services Committee once I do get into Congress because when we’re making decisions on where headquarters actually land in this country, I want to be that person at the table making the decisions.”

Johnny Garcia, at the same forum:

“People in this district were sold on a false promise that things would be fixed on day one, but here we are, nearly two years, and we’re still feeling the same pinch and squeezed.”

Questionnaires And Debates

Both candidates answered the San Antonio Report’s candidate questionnaire. On iVoterGuide, De La Cruz declined every item and Garcia did not answer, and Garcia has not completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. Both took part in the Oct. 9 Hispanic Chamber of Commerce forum, moderated by Texas Public Radio and the San Antonio Report.

Endorsements

De La Cruz is endorsed by President Donald Trump, according to VoteHub. Members of Congress backing De La Cruz include Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), the candidate’s sister, per the Texas Tribune; Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA); Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN); Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX); and Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), per Politico. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also backs De La Cruz, according to VoteHub.

Garcia is backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue program, Blue Dog PAC, CHC BOLD PAC, Reproductive Freedom for All and the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund. The Texas AFL-CIOendorsed Garcia in the primary. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) endorsed Garcia, per Spectrum News, and Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) did so in the runoff, per a San Antonio Express-News report. The San Antonio Express-News editorial boardendorsed Garcia in the primary, and the Houston Chronicle editorial board did so in the runoff.

Who Is Funding Them

These figures come from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings for Carlos De La Cruz Jr. and Johnny Garcia for the 2026 cycle through Wednesday, Oct. 14.

De La Cruz reported raising $2.0 million and had $313,000 on hand. Half came from small donors giving under $200, 37% from larger donors and 14% from political action committees (PACs) and other committees. De La Cruz put in $53,000 of personal money, about 3%, and received $35,000 in transfers from joint fundraising committees. Top PAC donors were American Revival PAC, Hispanic Leadership Trust, Keep Texas Texas PAC and SEAL PAC at $15,000 each, then Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans PAC at $10,000.

Garcia reported raising $2.2 million and had $150,000 on hand. Small donors gave 68%, larger donors 21% and PACs and other committees 11%, with no personal money and $7,500 in joint fundraising transfers. The top PAC donor was the Blue Dog Political Action Committee at $12,500, followed by the American Federation of Teachers Committee on Political Education, California Leadership United for Victory PAC, CHC BOLD PAC and the Democratic Majority Fund at $10,000 each.

Neither campaign reported money from party committees. Outside groups reported spending $2.4 million to support De La Cruz and $52,000 to oppose De La Cruz, and $2.7 million to support Garcia and $114,000 to oppose Garcia. The largest outside spenders were Defending Our Values PAC, which spent $1.5 million in support; Project 218, $1.4 million in support; and BDA PAC, $775,000 in support and $475,000 in opposition.

Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are listed by name in FEC filings. Smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total, so small donors’ names are not public.

Challengers’ Records

Neither Carlos De La Cruz Jr. nor Johnny Garcia has held elected or appointed public office. Neither has a legislative voting record to review.

The U.S. Senate Race

What This Office Does

U.S. senators serve six-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. The Senate also confirms presidential nominees, including federal judges, and approves treaties. Local coverage of the 35th District has focused on immigration and border policy and on the cost of living.

Candidates In Brief

Libertarian Ted Brown, born in 1960, is a self-employed insurance adjuster with a political science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Brown was the Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2024 and received more than 267,000 votes. Brown’s top priorities are abolishing the federal income tax and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), ending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and avoiding military intervention. The campaign website is tedbrown.org.

Republican Ken Paxton holds bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Baylor University and a law degree from the University of Virginia, built a law firm in McKinney and is the son of an Air Force veteran. Paxton’s top priorities are new tax deductions for health care, housing and family costs, more oil and gas production and defending Texas values. The campaign website is kenpaxton.com.

Democrat James Talarico is an eighth-generation Texan, a former middle school teacher and a Presbyterian seminarian who passed bipartisan bills on insulin copay caps and prescription drug imports. Talarico’s top priorities are fighting billionaire-funded corruption, cutting taxes for working people and protecting and expanding health care. The campaign website is jamestalarico.com.

None of the three is an incumbent senator. Four declared write-in candidates are also certified for this race: Avery Ayers, Bradford “Brad” Hall, Zul Mohamed and Jade Simmons, an independent, according to the Tarrant County elections write-in list and Fox 7 Austin. Write-in names are not printed on the ballot, so a voter must write in the name of the candidate chosen.

Where They Stand

Cost of living. Brown would repeal the federal income tax and Trump’s tariffs. Paxton would permanently repeal the federal gas tax and increase American energy production. Talarico would repeal Trump’s tariffs, suspend the federal gas tax, raise taxes on billionaires and corporations and raise the minimum wage.

Health care. Brown opposes any federal authority over the doctor-patient relationship. Paxton proposes a $25,000 deduction per taxpayer, plus $25,000 per dependent, for out-of-pocket medical costs including insurance premiums. Talarico would protect health insurance and Medicaid, lower drug costs and medical debt, create a federal public insurance option and address Texas’ maternal deaths.

Housing. Paxton proposes a $50,000 deduction for first-time homebuyers and $50,000 for down payments on a new primary home. Talarico would expand the low-income housing tax credit, go after corporate landlords who inflate rents and update zoning rules.

Immigration. Brown would end ICE, screen arrivals for criminal records and contagious diseases in the style of Ellis Island and let new arrivals work right away. Paxton backs strict border enforcement and barriers where needed, but called a Big Bend border wall “not smart border security.” Talarico would add Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, focus ICE on criminals and gang members, create a citizenship pathway for Dreamers and oppose a Big Bend border wall.

Abortion. Paxton’s campaign site pledges to “defend the unborn.” Talarico does not support government restrictions on abortion and says this position fits Talarico’s Christian faith.

Climate and energy. Brown says data centers should have their own plan for power and water, with no taxpayer subsidies or eminent domain. Paxton would keep oil and gas regulations low and backed letting data centers build their own power exempt from federal rules. Talarico would restore federal renewable energy tax credits, weatherproof the Texas grid and protect oil and gas jobs while growing wind, solar and geothermal power.

Foreign policy. Brown opposes the Iran War as “Trump’s war of choice” and would end U.S. military interventions and foreign aid, leave the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and close Middle East bases. Paxton is “supportive of what the president is doing” on the Iran War and says Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon. Talarico would vote for a war powers resolution to stop the Iran War, deepen cooperation with NATO, stop offensive weapons sales to the Netanyahu government and work toward a two-state solution.

Elections. Brown says Texas Republicans have tried to keep Libertarian candidates off the ballot. Paxton’s campaign says Paxton “fought for election integrity” as attorney general.

Veterans. Talarico would oppose privatizing the Department of Veterans Affairs and reverse mass firings of federal workers who serve veterans.

In Their Own Words

Ted Brown, in an interview with Spectrum News, Wednesday, Oct. 21:

“Voters in Texas need a third choice, an alternative choice, because what we have is the corrupt two-party system.”

Ken Paxton, in a statement covered by the Texas Tribune, July 31:

“Washington has made it harder than ever to get ahead, and the American Dream is slipping away as the cost of everything from housing to healthcare rises.”

James Talarico, in the Texas Tribune’s written questionnaire, Tuesday, Oct. 13:

“As your senator, I will vote in support of a war powers resolution to put a stop to this reckless war that has left the American and Iranian people all worse off than before it started.”

Questionnaires And Debates

Brown and Talarico answered the Texas Tribune’s candidate questionnaire. Paxton declined, and Tribune reporters filled in answers from Paxton’s public statements. Talarico completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey, and Brown has not.

No debate has been held. Fox News offered to host one if Paxton committed, and three planned debates were canceled:

NBC, Telemundo and Hearst Texas, Tuesday, Sept. 22: Talarico accepted; Paxton did not.
WFAA and TEGNA, Tuesday, Oct. 6: Talarico accepted; the Paxton campaign stopped responding to WFAA after Aug. 24.
KXAN and Nexstar, Tuesday, Oct. 13: Talarico accepted; Paxton did not.

Endorsements

Paxton is endorsed by President Donald Trump, per KPTV; Elon Musk, per The Hill; former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, per WSET; and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, per Bloomberg. Turning Point Action endorsed Paxton in the primary, per the Washington Examiner.

Talarico is endorsed by the editorial boards of The Dallas Morning News and the Austin American-Statesman. Neil Bush, per The Guardian; Barbara Bush, per Houston Public Media; and Willie Nelson, per a Houston Chronicle report, also back Talarico.

Who Is Funding Them

These figures come from the FEC filings for Ted Brown, Ken Paxton and James Talarico for the 2026 cycle through Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Talarico reported raising $146.3 million and had $9.9 million on hand. Small donors gave 79% and larger donors 21%, and Talarico received $2.6 million in joint fundraising transfers. The top PAC donors were Advancing Democracy and Mobilization PAC at $12,000; Lobo PAC and SD PAC at $10,000 each; the Midwest Region Laborers’ Political League at $7,500; and MD PAC at $7,000.

Paxton reported raising $22.3 million and had $4.8 million on hand. Larger donors gave 78%, small donors 20%, PACs and other committees 2% and party committees 1%, and Paxton received $6,633 in joint fundraising transfers. The top PAC donors were the National Republican Senatorial Committee at $62,000; U.S. Anesthesia Partners PAC at $25,000; and Best at Bringing Entrepreneurial Results Never Imagined or Envisioned PAC, the National Association for Gun Rights PAC and the Senate Conservatives Fund at $10,000 each.

Brown reported raising $14,000 and had $1,288 on hand. Larger donors gave 44% and small donors 1%, and Brown put in $5,000 of personal money, about 35%. Brown reported no PAC donors.

Outside groups reported spending $4.4 million to support Talarico and $1.3 million to oppose Talarico, and $1.4 million to support Paxton and $26.9 million to oppose Paxton. None was reported for or against Brown. The largest outside spenders were Texans for a Conservative Majority, $5.3 million in support and $30.1 million in opposition; Lone Star Rising PAC, $4.0 million in support and $4.6 million in opposition; and Lone Star Liberty PAC, $770,000 in support and $6.9 million in opposition.

Challengers’ Records

None of the three Senate candidates has served in Congress. Ted Brown has not held public office and has served in Libertarian Party roles, including vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Travis County, candidate coordinator for the Libertarian Party of Texas and member of the Texas State Libertarian Executive Committee.

Ken Paxton represented District 70 in the Texas House from 2003 to 2013 and District 8 in the Texas Senate from 2013 to 2015, and has been Texas attorney general since 2015. The Texas House impeached Paxton in 2023 on 20 articles alleging corruption and abuse of office, and the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton on Sept. 16, 2023. As attorney general, Paxton has enforced and defended Texas’ abortion ban.

James Talarico won election to the Texas House in 2018 and is serving a fourth term. Talarico represented District 52 in Williamson County until 2023 and has represented District 50 in Travis County since. In 2025, Talarico was among the Texas House Democrats who left the state to block a vote on the new congressional map.

Scorecards Readers Can Check

No candidate on this ballot has served in Congress, so no congressional scorecard ratings apply.

Also On Your Ballot

Texas has no statewide propositions on the Nov. 3 ballot. Local measures depend on where you live, and your county elections office lists every measure on your ballot.

In Texas school tax elections, the operations rate pays for daily costs like salaries, and a district must ask voters when it sets that rate above a state cap. The debt rate repays bonds, which are loans for buildings, buses and technology. A No vote on any measure below keeps the current tax or blocks the bond.

City of San Antonio Prop A. A Yes vote renews the city’s one-eighth-cent sales tax for Pre-K 4 SA for up to 20 years after the current approval ends in 2029. The San Antonio City Council placed the renewal on the ballot, and the program would expand to infants and toddlers and to care outside regular hours, according to Texas Public Radio. The San Antonio Report describes it as continuing the current tax, not adding a new one.

San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) Props A to D. A Yes on Prop A raises the school operations tax rate 3.17 cents, to $0.7869 per $100 of property value, bringing in about $5.5 million a year, about 3% more, for career and technical education and teacher training programs. Props B, C and D approve $492 million for buildings and buses, $102 million for technology and $6 million for Alamo Stadium. The district estimates all four together would add about $90 a year to the tax bill on an average $240,000 home by 2030; homeowners 65 and older with an over-65 exemption would see no increase. The board called the election Aug. 17.

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District (SCUC ISD) Prop A. On ballots in Bexar and Guadalupe counties, a Yes vote approves a total school tax rate of $1.1969 per $100, made up of $0.7869 for operations and $0.41 for debt, according to the district’s election order. It would raise operations revenue about 18%, or about $8.3 million, to recruit and keep staff. The district estimates the cost at about $15 a month on $150,000 of taxable value, according to KSAT.

East Central ISD Prop A. On ballots in Bexar and Wilson counties, a Yes vote raises the school operations tax rate from $0.6669 to $0.7041 per $100 while the debt rate falls from $0.2650 to $0.2279. That leaves the total rate almost unchanged at $0.9320 and brings in about $8.47 million a year, about 9% more operations revenue.

Comal ISD Props A and B. For Comal ISD residents, including part of Guadalupe County, a Yes vote approves about $540 million for school construction, land and buses and about $27 million for technology. The board called the election Aug. 4, and the district estimates its debt rate would stay at $0.35 per $100 if both pass, according to the Herald-Zeitung.

Karnes City ISD Props A and B. On ballots in Karnes and Atascosa counties, Prop A approves $123 million for a replacement junior high, a renovated administrative center, new physical education facilities, and new school buses and bus security devices, according to the district’s election order. Prop B approves $5 million for teacher housing. The board called the election Aug. 10, and the district estimates both together would raise its total tax rate about 6.8 cents, or about $104 a year on a $150,000 home, according to KDH News.

Before You Go

Still Ahead

Early voting ends Friday, Oct. 30. Find sites at My Voter Portal or through your county’s early voting clerk.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. statewide (VoteTexas.gov), and My Voter Portal shows your polling place.
Mail ballots must reach your county’s early voting clerk by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, or by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, if postmarked by 7 p.m. Nov. 3 (VoteTexas.gov ballot by mail rules).
Photo ID: Bring a Texas driver license, election ID certificate, personal ID card or handgun license, or a U.S. military ID, citizenship certificate with photo or passport. Voters 18 to 69 may use an ID expired up to four years, and voters 70 and older may use an expired ID of any age. Without one, bring a document such as a utility bill or paycheck and sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration to vote a regular ballot (VoteTexas.gov voter ID rules).
In the booth: Printed notes and sample ballots are allowed. Texas law bars phones and other devices that can record sound or images within 100 feet of voting stations, and bars campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place’s outside door. The secretary of state’s office tells voters not to wear clothing, buttons or hats that support or oppose a candidate, party or measure (Texas Secretary of State).
Questions: Call the Texas Secretary of State at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683), or call or text the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

Deadlines That Have Passed

Registration closed Monday, Oct. 5. You can still check your registration at My Voter Portal.
Mail ballot applications were due Friday, Oct. 23.