Texas House District 35 2026

Compare candidates running in this Texas federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Carlos De La Cruz

Party: Republican

John Lujan

Party: Republican

Johnny Garcia

Party: Democrat

Maureen Galindo

Party: Democrat

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Texas House District 35

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
📊Polling
No general election polling data available as of April 10, 2026. Primary runoffs on May 26 will determine Democratic and Republican nominees. General election race expected to be competitive based on district fundamentals.
likely r★ Flip Potential— Cook Political Report (as of March 2026)

TX-35 is one of five blue districts Republicans targeted in 2025 redistricting. Redrawn to favor Republicans with Trump +10 advantage, but Cook PVI shows D+19 lean. Democrats see potential pickup opportunity if correct candidate nominated. Outcome will impact House control margins.

Carlos De La CruzR
John LujanR
Johnny GarciaD
Maureen GalindoD

Summary

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.

John Lujan is a 63-year-old state representative who represents Texas House District 118, which overlaps substantially with the new congressional district. He is a longtime San Antonio firefighter and Bexar County sheriff's deputy who entered politics later in life. Lujan flipped a blue state House district to Republican in 2021 special election and retained it in subsequent general elections. He is seen as a strong general election candidate with crossover appeal, endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott. Has been married for over 40 years with five children, three adopted.

Garcia is a 39-year-old veteran Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputy and current public information officer for the agency. He is backed by establishment Democrats and national party organizations. Garcia worked his way through community college while doing construction, joining the sheriff's office at 21. He has served in multiple capacities including jail officer, patrol officer, SWAT hostage negotiator, and public communications officer under Sheriff Javier Salazar. Garcia identifies as an 'old-school Democrat' focused on restoring working and middle-class economics.

Galindo is a 38-year-old marriage and family therapist with a master's degree in community psychology from Concordia University in Portland. She grew up in Philadelphia and moved to San Antonio where she became a housing justice activist. She ran unsuccessfully for San Antonio City Council District 1 in 2025, receiving 3% of the vote. She gained prominence as a vocal critic of the Soap Factory Apartments demolition for a baseball stadium development. Despite spending only $1,500 on her congressional campaign, she finished first in the March 3 Democratic primary with 29% of the vote, ahead of the national party's preferred candidate.

View Carlos De La Cruz's Full Profile →View John Lujan's Full Profile →View Johnny Garcia's Full Profile →View Maureen Galindo's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Other
  • Be President Trump's 'wingman in Congress'
  • Protect American children and country
  • Take down 'radical leftists' destroying America
Economy
  • Build economy that works for working families
Justice
  • Ensure safe communities
Immigration
  • Secure the border and address immigration crisis
  • Create pathway to citizenship for long-term undocumented immigrants
Economy
  • Reduce regulatory barriers for small businesses
Other
  • Defend Christian values and stop liberal agenda
Justice
  • Public safety and rule of law
Economy
  • Build an economy that works for working families
Immigration
  • Comprehensive immigration reform
Justice
  • Restore order and rule of law
Other
  • Strong support for Israel and U.S.-Israel relationship
Economy
  • Lower the cost of living and make housing affordable
  • Strengthen workers' power and labor protections
Healthcare
  • Make health care affordable
Justice
  • Restore real accountability in democracy
Education
  • Student debt relief
  • Fund arts, music and sports in schools

Key Issue Positions

Border Security and Immigration
Deployed to southern border; positions himself as having firsthand experience
Campaign website states: 'I'm the only candidate in this race who's actually been deployed to the southern border.' Implies strong border security stance though specific policy details limited in public materials.
Small Business Support
Successful entrepreneur with kickboxing gym and IT company
Positions himself as self-made businessman who understands small business needs and job creation
Trump Loyalty
Explicitly running as Trump's 'wingman' in Congress
Campaign messaging centers on support for Trump administration policies and loyalty to Trump's agenda
Immigration and Border Security
Supports border security with humanitarian pathway for established undocumented immigrants
Calls for restoration of rule of law at border. Criticizes both federal inaction and executive overreach. But recognizes that long-term undocumented residents who have contributed economically deserve pathway to citizenship rather than mass deportation.
Economy and Jobs
Pro-growth, pro-small business with emphasis on reducing regulatory burden
Argues disciplined spending, pro-growth policies, and restoring taxpayer confidence in Washington are essential to strong economy. Wants employers to operate with certainty.
Social and Family Values
Traditional conservative values; family-focused legislation
Has championed foster care reform and protection of vulnerable children in state House. Married 40+ years, 5 children (3 adopted)
Immigration and Border Security
Comprehensive reform with both security and pathways to citizenship
Calls for border security while acknowledging broken immigration system requires bipartisan solutions. Supports orderly legal pathways, work visas, immigration court funding.
Economy and Jobs
Old-school Democrat focused on worker protections and family economics
Emphasizes good-paying jobs, fair wages, small business support, and infrastructure investment. Concerned about tariffs and job losses.
Law Enforcement and Public Safety
Professional law enforcement perspective; criticizes Trump administration's approach to police
Believes Trump administration uses law enforcement as political weapon to divide communities. Concerned about respect for profession.
Israel and Middle East
Strong pro-Israel stance; opposes antisemitism
Firmly believes Hamas is terrorist organization; supports Israel's right to self-defense and U.S. military aid; criticizes antisemitism and conspiracy theories about Jewish influence
Housing Justice
Opposes corporate-driven displacement and gentrification
Advocates for mixed-income public housing, rental assistance programs, and tenant protections. Critical of billionaire developers like Graham Weston.
Democracy and Accountability
Demands participatory democracy and Congressional reassertion of power
Believes executive branch has overreached on national security and spending; calls for Congressional oversight through hearings, subpoenas, and prosecution of lawbreakers
Israel and Foreign Policy
Opposes U.S. funding of Israel; critical of Israeli military actions
Calls for ending U.S. military aid to Israel; characterizes Gaza situation as genocide. Uses social media to promote scrutiny of U.S.-Israel relationship.

Top Donors

Leading the Future PAC (AI industry-affiliated)
Spent to boost De La CruzSuper PAC
Super PAC backed by AI industry figures spent to support De La Cruz as pro-innovation candidate

No donor data available.

Blue Dog Coalition PAC
$300,000Super PAC
Spent on TV ads supporting Garcia in Democratic primary
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar
In-kind endorsement and campaign supportIndividual/institutional
Sheriff provided prominent endorsement and assistance with campaign launch
Self-funded/minimal fundraising
~$1,500Personal funds
Galindo ran grassroots campaign with minimal resources; no PAC support

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Lujan has stated he supports secure border but also advocates 'pathway to citizenship' for undocumented immigrants already in U.S.
Contradiction: Conservative critics argue this amounts to amnesty. Texans for Strong Borders criticized Lujan's record as 'anything but America First' on immigration
Claim: Lujan criticized President Trump's Twitter use in 2018, stating Trump 'could tamp down on the tweeting a little bit'
Contradiction: Trump critics might see this as reasonable, but Trump supporters have noted it as divergence from Trump on messaging/style. Lujan now campaigns as strong Trump supporter.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

What Opponents Say

John Lujan campaign/supporters

De La Cruz is not well-known in local Republican circles and lacked political background until Trump endorsement

Local Republicans noted De La Cruz had 'never run for office before, and raised little money leading up to primary' before Trump endorsement gave him 'instant credibility in Republican circles'

Democratic strategists

De La Cruz is preferred general election opponent because he lacks Lujan's crossover appeal

Phil Gardner stated Democrats would prefer De La Cruz win runoff because 'Lujan flipped a seat that Biden won, he has some history of crossover appeal' but De La Cruz relies on Trump endorsement

Carlos De La Cruz campaign

De La Cruz received Trump's endorsement while Lujan was seen as establishment choice

In March 2026 primary, Trump endorsed De La Cruz at last minute despite Lujan leading in March primary results. De La Cruz and Trump campaign argued De La Cruz better positioned to win general election.

Democrats and progressive strategists

Lujan's immigration position shows he's not fully aligned with Trump administration

Phil Gardner (Blue Dog Action PAC) argued Lujan's pathway to citizenship proposal shows he has 'crossover appeal' but might not be as hardline on Trump priorities as De La Cruz

Maureen Galindo

Garcia represents establishment interests and corporate-backed approach to politics

Galindo contrasts her grassroots, anti-corporate approach with Garcia's endorsements from traditional Democratic organizations and party PACs like Blue Dog Coalition

Democratic strategists and media

Garcia is the more electable general election candidate against Republican nominee

Phil Gardner (Blue Dog Action PAC) and other party strategists argue Garcia's law enforcement background and life story give him broader appeal to moderate voters needed to win Trump +10 district

Johnny Garcia

Galindo's antisemitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories pose risks to Jewish safety and Democratic chances in general election

Garcia told Jewish Insider that antisemitism is dangerous and the party doesn't need divisive rhetoric from a Democratic candidate running for Congress. He cited foiled terrorist attack on synagogue in Michigan as example of real-world harms from conspiracy theories.

Democratic Party strategists

Galindo's lack of fundraising and outside support is a weakness compared to Garcia

Phil Gardner from Blue Dog Action PAC stated Garcia's law enforcement background and life story make him the better candidate to appeal to moderate voters needed to win in general election against Republican.

Endorsements

Donald Trump (President)individual
Mike Johnson (House Speaker)individual
Monica De La Cruz (U.S. Rep., R-TX-15)individual
Multiple Washington D.C. GOP lawmakersindividual
Greg Abbott (Governor of Texas)individual
Hope for the Hurting (nonprofit)organization
NRA (National Rifle Association)organization
Southern Baptist Associationorganization
Retired Firefighters Associationorganization
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazarindividual
Former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolffindividual
Blue Dog Coalitionorganization
CWA Local 6143 (Communications Workers)organization
LiUna (Laborers International Union)organization
Texas AFL-CIOorganization
John Lira (fellow 2026 primary candidate)individual
Whitney Masterson-Moyes (fellow 2026 primary candidate)individual