Who's In the Race

Democrat Johnny Garcia faces Republican Carlos De La Cruz Jr. in the November 3 general election in Texas's 35th U.S. House District. The seat is open because Rep. Greg Casar ran for the 37th District after Texas's 2025 redistricting drew him out of the 35th, according to the Texas Tribune. ​

Garcia is a San Antonio native who spent nearly two decades with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, rising from jail work to patrol and SWAT crisis negotiation and serving as the department's public information officer. He won the May 26 Democratic primary runoff with about 64 percent of the vote over Maureen Galindo, a margin of nearly 28 percentage points.

De La Cruz served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, including deployments to the Middle East and service on the southern border, before retiring in 2017 and opening a kickboxing gym. He won the May 26 Republican primary runoff with about 58 percent over John Lujan, a margin of 4,990 votes.

What They Stand For

Garcia has proposed ending tariffs he says raise everyday prices and modernizing energy supply to cut utility bills, according to his campaign website. He's also supported:

  • Secure borders through a combination of border security, pathways to citizenship, and work visas,
  • Well-trained, accountable law enforcement with community-based efforts to address crime,
  • Strengthening the Affordable Care Act, expanding Medicaid and lowering prescription drug costs, according to the San Antonio Report candidate questionnaire; and
  • Fully funded public schools, higher teacher investment and affordable routes to college, apprenticeships and vocational training, according to the San Antonio Report.

De La Cruz has called for stronger border security and more tools for Border Patrol, saying "we welcome legal immigration" but should not allow cartels to exploit the country, according to his campaign website. He also supports:

  • Bringing back jobs, lowering costs and rebuilding an economy that works for working families,
  • Faster veterans' care with less bureaucracy, saying Washington must keep its promises to veterans,
  • Law enforcement resources to protect families and restore order; and
  • Expanding Texas energy production and rolling back green regulations to lower prices and create jobs.

The Money Behind the Race

Through June 30, De La Cruz had raised about $1,048,751 and had about $272,389 in the bank, while Garcia had raised about $931,699 and held about $323,108 in cash, giving Garcia a modest cash-on-hand edge despite trailing in total receipts, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Outside groups have spent about $2,607,000 supporting Garcia, with Project 218 the largest pro-Garcia spender at about $1,399,000, and about $114,000 opposing him, with Lead Left PAC accounting for all of it; groups have spent about $2,351,000 supporting De La Cruz, led by Defending Our Values PAC at about $1,492,000, and about $12,000 opposing him, spent by Protect and Serve PAC.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race Lean Republican as of Oct. 19; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Lean Republican as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Lean Republican as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats, whose nominee is Garcia, a 60.78 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 20, putting the market at odds with the pundit consensus.

Democrat Greg Casar won the district with about 73 percent of the vote in 2022 and about 67 percent in 2024, a drop of about five percentage points in his vote share between those two elections. Republicans held 25 of Texas's 38 U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024, with Democrats holding the remaining 13. Donald Trump carried Texas in the 2024 presidential election with about 56 percent of the vote.

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