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Big Democratic Victories: I am excited to share with you my conversation with a Red to Blue candidate from South Central Texas and a decisive primary runoff winner in TX-35 – Johnny Garcia.
Johnny Garcia is a lifelong resident of San Antonio, Texas, where he was raised by a hardworking single mother. He graduated from Memorial High School in one of the most marginalized school districts in the country.
“My mother taught me before I was even able to understand who Democrats were, what Democrats stood for.
“No me dé nada en las manos, solo dame la oportunidad de luchar por ello”. (All we need is a fair chance to show you what we are capable of).
And she taught me that this is what Democrats do: Democrats fight for working-class people like us so that we can pursue the American dream.”
Johnny has served in law enforcement since he was 21 years old, holding roles in rehabilitation at the local jail, as a hostage negotiator with the SWAT team, and, most recently, as a Public Information Officer for the Bexar County Sheriff.
Although Johnny is no stranger to a life of public service, this is his first time running for public office.
“Just like I raised my hand when I swore to protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of the state of Texas. I plan to do so again in November.”
Texas’s 35th Congressional District is one of the five seats that Governor Abbott redrew during the redistricting effort Donald Trump cooked up in order to try to rig the midterm elections in November.
TX-35 is a majority-Hispanic district in South Texas. It’s now an open seat with the Cook Political Report rating it as an R+4 – tough, but completely within reach for Johnny!
“Quite frankly, they weren’t anticipating making me angry. I’ll use that word, a Democrat deputy sheriff, to step into this race; I ain’t going to let this gerrymander happen on my watch.”
As you know very well, Washington, D.C. is in distress. America is in distress. Working-class families are in distress, and it seems like there’s no relief in sight.
We don’t have many opportunities to win here in Texas. This is our opportunity. This is our moment for Democrats nationwide, for Democrats in this district, to stand up and show their frustration at the polls.”
Johnny had a competitive primary election and emerged victorious – but now starts the campaign for a competitive general election. So he has been traveling all across the district talking to voters about their top issues ahead of the November election.
He says affordability is at the top of people’s minds – his community began to change and erode as soon as Donald Trump’s administration took power last year.
Johnny says that the people of South Texas just want to be able to afford their groceries at HEB, pay their utility bills in the hot summer sun, fill up their gas tank at Buccee’s, and provide their families with Barbacoa on Sundays.
He is laser-focused on making life more affordable for his community once he comes to Washington in November.
Folks have also been concerned about the political weaponization of federal law enforcement, including ICE/CBP.
“I know what it’s like to hold an agency accountable, because when you hold an agency accountable, you’re able to maintain that trust and credibility with your community.
When you’re destroying that credibility and trust, it’s eroding everything that my fellow brothers and sisters have literally died and fought to protect in our community.”
Johnny’s opponent in this race is Carlos De La Cruz, whose sister is Representative Monica De La Cruz (Bobby Pulido’s opponent in TX-15).
According to Johnny, Carlos has made it clear that he is running to be Donald Trump’s “wing-man” in Congress.
We need a change – not the same mold of Republicans who are currently holding our democracy and economy hostage to their own selfish demands.
Carlos De La Cruz is another aspiring D.C. swamp creature, looking to build off of the failed example of his sister – selling out Texans for his own political gain.
I have no doubt that Johnny Garcia will be the elected leader who delivers for his TX-35 community in Congress. So here is how you can help his campaign:
Learn more about Johnny here: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
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Give generously: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
And when Johnny wins in November, he has one priority: making health care more affordable.
“I’ve gotten to see how health care dramatically affects people here in this district. And the interesting thing about this district is that it’s urban, comprised of three rural counties. So it’s seated here in San Antonio, and it’s surrounded by three rural counties: Guadalupe, Wilson, and Karnes counties. And we know that the Big Ugly Bill posed a threat to rural hospitals here in this district.
And you know what, people such as myself, working-class families, the working poor, we’re the most affected by unaffordable health care. People who are too young for Medicare. They make too much for Medicaid but not enough for private insurance.
These are the folks who are being hit the hardest. And it’s why we have to make health care affordable.”
I can get on board with that.
I know that Johnny is running a strong, inspiring campaign that will get across the finish line in these next 99 days!! If you are as inspired as I am by this conversation, visit votejohnnygarcia.com [ [link removed] ], donate generously, and then sign up to help him.
Thank you so much, Johnny – we’re all rooting for you ahead of the November election! Thank you, Big Democratic Victories community, for joining another conversation with an incredible Red to Blue candidate.
More to come,
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood
DCCC Red-to-Blue, Co-Chair
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