Carlos De La Cruz is a 47-year-old retired U.S. Air Force veteran who served 20 years with multiple combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the U.S.-Mexico border. After leaving the military, he and his wife founded a kickboxing gym in San Antonio that mentored local youth. He later founded an IT company that has grown to over 550 employees. He is the brother of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15). De La Cruz received last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump in late February 2026, which propelled him to finish second in the March 3 Republican primary with 27% of the vote, advancing to the runoff against frontrunner Lujan.
Carlos De La Cruz is a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran who retired honorably after serving in combat zones including Iraq, Afghanistan, and the U.S.-Mexico border. Upon leaving the military, he and his wife founded a kickboxing gym in San Antonio that served the local community and mentored young people. The gym has since been sold. He later founded an information technology company that has grown to over 550 employees as of 2026. De La Cruz is the brother of U.S. Representative Monica De La Cruz, who represents Texas' 15th Congressional District. He has deep San Antonio roots and describes himself as a 'proud Air Force veteran, small businessman, husband, father, and conservative Texan.'