This story has been updated.
Bexar County’s March 5 primary will feature a heated reelection bid for one three-term Republican state representative, contentious races for two newcomers on the Commissioners Court and an expensive contest for a U.S. House member who was censured by his own party earlier this year.
As of Monday evening, when the filing period for the primary ended, the field is set. And while many of the federal, state and local races are all but decided after the primary, the winner of a competitive Democratic primary in state House District 118 will move on to challenge incumbent Republican John Lujan in one of the state’s few-remaining political swing districts.
“We don’t know what the status of the presidential race is going to be by the time the primary gets to Texas,” said Republican strategist Craig Murphy, who works for state House Rep. Steve Allison (R-San Antonio). But at least on the Republican side, he said, “this is likely to be the biggest primary in history” if a GOP primary is still underway with former President Donald Trump on the ballot.
In Congress, four Republicans are running against U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio), who angered conservatives by joining Democrats on a gun safety bill and siding with business groups on immigration issues. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) survived primary challenges from progressive Jessica Cisneros in 2020 and 2022, but didn’t draw a Democrat opponent this time.
Most of Bexar County’s state lawmakers are running unopposed in their primaries, with the exception of Allison, whose faces two challengers, including one with the backing of Gov. Greg Abbott, Marc LaHood.
In the two county commissioner races up in 2024, Democrat Rebeca Clay-Flores (Pct.1) and Republican Grant Moody (Pct. 3) each face significant challenges from within their own party.
Five Democrats filed to run against Clay-Flores, who upset an entrenched incumbent to win her seat in 2020. And the former Pct. 1 commissioner, Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez, has reappeared in a primary challenge, running against the precinct’s incumbent constable.
Meanwhile, former mayoral candidate Christopher Schuchardt is challenging Moody, who won the seat in a special election in 2022. In a nod to the influence the GOP presidential primary is already having on local races, a group of conservatives rallied at Blanco BBQ Monday night to support Schuchardt.
“As a MAGA activist, I’m really concerned about MAGA conservatism,” said Dave Purdy who is supporting Schuchardt. “It blows my mind that there are so many people with an R [for Republican] after their name who don’t really walk the walk.”
When the filing period closed, however, some at the gathering expressed disappointment that no Republicans opted to challenge two incumbent Democrats, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and state Rep. Diego Bernal, on the November ballot.
Here’s a look at the Democrats and Republicans who have filed to run in the March 5 primary, according to Bexar County’s certified candidate list.
Bexar County
County Party Chair
Democrats: Monica Alcantara (incumbent), Sandragrace Martinez
Republicans: Robert Flores, Kris Coons, Jacinto “Chinto” Martinez
Precinct 1 Commissioner
Democrats: Rebeca Clay-Flores (incumbent), Lawson Alaniz-Picasso, Ernesto Arrellano Jr., Anna Uriegas Bustamante, Ismael Garcia, Amanda Gonzalez
Republicans: Lina Prado
Precinct 3 Commissioner Precinct 3
Democrats: Susan Korbel
Republicans: Grant Moody (incumbent), Christopher Schuchardt
Sheriff
Democrats: Javier Salazar (incumbent), Sharon Rodriguez
Republicans: Nathaniel Buchanan, Dennis Casillas, Victor Mendoza
Tax Assessor-Collector
Democrats: Albert Uresti (incumbent), Hatem Merhi
Republicans: None
Precinct 1 Constable
Democrats: Ruben Tejeda (incumbent), Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez
Republicans: None
Precinct 2 Constable
Democrats: Leticia Rodriguez Vazquez (incumbent)
Republicans: Paul Alexander Canales
Precinct 3 Constable
Democrats: None
Republicans: Mark Vojvodich (incumbent), Jarrod Tubbs
Precinct 4 Constable
Democrats: Kathryn “Kat” Brown (incumbent), Neal Buford, Andy Lopez, Stan Ramos
Republicans: None
State House and Senate
House District 116
Democrats: Trey Martinez Fischer (incumbent)
Republicans: Darryl Crain
House District 117
Democrats: Philip Cortez (incumbent)
Republicans: Ben Mostyn
House District 118
Democrats: Kristian Carranza, Carlos Quezada
Republicans: John Lujan (incumbent)
House District 119
Democrats: Liz Campos (incumbent), Charles Fuentes
Republicans: Brandon Grable, Dan Sawatzki
House District 120
Democrats: Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (incumbent)
Republicans: None
House District 121
Democrats: Shekhar Sinha, Laurel Jordan Swift
Republicans: Steve Allison (incumbent), Michael Champion, Marc LaHood
House District 122
Democrats: Kevin Geary
Republicans: Mark Dorazio (incumbent)
House District 123
Democrats: Diego Bernal (incumbent)
Republicans: None
House District 124
Democrats: Josey Garcia (incumbent)
Republicans: Sylvia Soto
House District 125
Democrats: Ray Lopez (incumbent), Eric Michael Garza
Republicans: None
State Senate District 25
Democrats: Merrie Fox
Republicans: Donna Campbell (incumbent)
State Board of Education Place 1
Democrats: Gustavo Reveles
Republicans: Michael “Travis” Stevens
State Board of Education Place 3
Democrats: Marisa B. Perez-Diaz (incumbent)
Republicans: None
Congress
Texas 20th Congressional District
Democrats: Joaquin Castro (incumbent)
Republicans: None
Texas 21st Congressional District
Democrats: Kristin Hook
Republicans: Chip Roy (incumbent)
Texas 23rd Congressional District
Democrats: Lee Bausinger, Santos Limon
Republicans: Tony Gonzales (incumbent), Victor Avila, Julie Clark, Brandon Herrera, Frank Lopez Jr.
Texas 28th Congressional District
Democrats: Henry Cuellar (incumbent)
Republicans: Jay Furman, Lazaro Garza Jr., Jimmy León, Jose Sanz
Texas 35th Congressional District
Democrats: Greg Casar (incumbent)
Republicans: David Cuddy, Brandon Craig Dunn, Rod Lingsch, Michael Rodriguez, Steven Wright
U.S. Senate:
Democrats: U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, Meri Gomez, Mark Gonzalez, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, A. “Robert” Hassan, Steven J. Keough, Heli Robriguez Prillman, Carl Oscar Sherman, Thierry Tchenko
Republicans: Ted Cruz (incumbent), Holland “Redd Gibson”, R E (Rufus) Lopez
