Garcia and De La Cruz Battle for Texas 35th District

Democratic candidate Johnny Garcia and Republican Carlos De La Cruz are locked in a competitive race for Texas's 35th Congressional District. The majority-Hispanic seat was recently redrawn by the state legislature to favor Republicans, aiming to capitalize on gains Donald Trump made with Hispanic voters during the 2024 election.

Garcia, a former sheriff's deputy, is campaigning as a moderate focused on law and order and the cost of living. De la Cruz, an Air Force veteran endorsed by Donald Trump, is emphasizing his military service and warning that Garcia would support extreme liberal policies. The race has drawn high-profile intervention, with Speaker Mike Johnson campaigning for De la Cruz in San Antonio and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg supporting Garcia.

While the district's boundaries were designed for a Republican advantage, voter dissatisfaction with inflation and the war in Iran has tightened the contest. Inside Elections recently upgraded the race's rating from Likely Republican to Lean Republican.