Trump-endorsed candidates win key Texas races in runoff

By Bethany Blankley
The Center Square

All Republican congressional candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump won their runoff elections Tuesday night in Texas.

All have also never been elected to office and are expected to win in the Nov. 3 general election.

Their Republican opponents – state lawmakers with extensive legislative and conservative track records – were endorsed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

Trump and Abbott have historically carried the most weight when it comes to Republican endorsements in Texas. In the primary and runoff elections this year, Trump-backed candidates won their races, including against those endorsed by Abbott.

More than a dozen congressional seats are up for grabs this election cycle due to incumbents retiring or being forced out of office due to redistricting or public scandals.

In the new Congressional District 35 in the San Antonio area, Trump-endorsed Republican candidate Carlos De La Cruz, who’s never been elected to any office, won by roughly 5,000 votes in an election where only 32,664 voted. The brother of incumbent U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, he defeated Abbott-endorsed state Rep. John Lujan, who has a lengthy conservative legislative record.

De La Cruz is expected to defeat Democrat Johnny Garcia in November. Garcia trounced his opponent, Maureen Galindo, in the runoff after she was condemned by Democratic leaders for repeatedly making what was seen as antisemitic comments, The Center Square reported. The San Antonio Jewish Federation condemned her for what it called her “antisemitic tropes.”

In the new CD 9 in the Houston area, Trump-endorsed Alex Mealer defeated longtime state lawmaker and Abbott-endorsed Briscoe Cain. It was considered one of the biggest upsets of the night.

Cain has a lengthy conservative legislative track record. Mealer has never been elected to office and was heavily criticized for receiving political action committee money from out of state and for not living in the district she was seeking to represent, The Center Square reported.

She won by double digits in a race with low voter turnout: Only 22,842 voted, according to unofficial results.

In CD 38, Trump-endorsed John Bonck won 65% of the vote in a seat vacated by outgoing Republican U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. Bonck is expected to win in November. The race was an anomaly in the runoff election as Bonck was endorsed by both Trump and Abbott.

In other races, runoff winners are expected to lose to incumbents in November.

In CD 1 in northeast Texas, Democrat Yolanda Prince won 72% of the vote in a race where only 7,186 voted. She’s expected to lose to incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Nathanial Moran in November.

In CD 5 in north Texas, Democrat Chelsey Hockett won 53% of the vote in a race where only 10,628 voted. She’s expected to lose to incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden in November.

In CD 7 in the Democratic stronghold of Houston, Republican Alexander Hale won 64% of the vote with only 17,246 voting. He’s expected to lose to the incumbent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, in November.

In CD 14 in southeast Texas, the Democratic race remains too close to call. Whoever wins is expected to lose to incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Weber in November.

In CD 16 in the El Paso area, Republican Adam Bauman won 68% of the vote in a race where only 11,289 voted. He’s expected to lose to the incumbent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, in November.

In CD 17 in north Texas, Democrat Casey Shepard won with 59% of the vote in a race where only 8,479 voted. He’s expected to lose to incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions in November.

In CD 24 in North Texas, Democrat Kevin Burge won 78% of the vote and is expected to lose to incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne in November.

In CD 37 in central Texas, Republican Lauren Pena won 58% of the vote and is expected to lose to incumbent U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat, in November.

A Republican and a Democrat are expected to win two open seats in November.

In CD 19 in the Panhandle, which is being vacated by retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, Republican Tom Sell won 64% of the vote and is expected to win in November.

In CD 30 in the Dallas area, also being vacated by outgoing Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Republican Everett Jackson won 57% of the vote with only 8,608 people voting. He’s expected to lose to Democrat Frederick Haynes in November.

Two Democrats were casualties on Tuesday night from redistricting.

Perhaps the biggest casualty was in CD 18 in the Democratic stronghold of Houston. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee, who won a special election earlier this year, defeated longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Al Green, who ran for reelection in a new district. Menefee is expected to win in November.

In the Democratic stronghold of CD 33 in Dallas, former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred won his runoff election after losing his U.S. Senate bid in 2024. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson ran for reelection in the new district and lost by nearly 8 points. Allred is expected to win in November.