San Antonio congressional candidates face 2026 election
Voters across Bexar County are heading to the polls for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election following a mid-cycle redistricting process that shrank San Antonio’s congressional delegation from five members to four. The San Antonio Report reported that an astounding 43% of Bexar County residents now find themselves living inside newly drawn congressional districts, setting the stage for competitive races across four distinct seats.
Redistricting Shakes Up San Antonio Congressional Map
Texas legislators redrew the state’s congressional boundaries, causing major shifts in local representation and voter alignment. Technology issues delayed the delivery of new voter ID cards, leaving many participants unaware of their new district lines during the March primary elections. Voters are now tasked with electing at least three new members to a condensed delegation where mapmakers drew most districts to favor Republican candidates.
The 20th Congressional District now encompasses most of the urban core rather than functioning as a mostly Westside district. Democratic U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro is seeking an eighth term in this changed political environment. Castro faces Republican Edgardo Baez, a former combat medic and first-time candidate who says he’s running to stop socialism from spreading to the U.S. Castro has spent recent months campaigning while recovering from cancer and drawing national attention to conditions inside ICE detention centers.
Contests Emerge in Deeply Red and Battleground Seats
In the 21st Congressional District, longtime incumbent Republican Chip Roy declined to run for reelection, instead pursuing an unsuccessful bid for Texas Attorney General. Republicans nominated former Major League Baseball player Mark Teixeira to hold the seat, which expanded its footprint deeper into Bexar County while losing territory stretching toward Austin. Teixeira faces Democrat Kristin Hook, a biological scientist formerly with the National Institutes of Health.
Meanwhile, the 23rd Congressional District remains an open seat following the April resignation of Republican Tony Gonzales. Brandon Herrera, a social media content creator and small firearms manufacturing company owner, secured the Republican nomination automatically after Gonzales ended his reelection bid. Katy Padilla Stout, an attorney and Bexar County Child Welfare Board member, is the Democratic nominee in the district, facing independent candidate Ben Mendoza, a professional mediator from El Paso.
Republicans also established an entirely new seat in the 35th Congressional District by breaking apart the previous Austin-to-San Antonio district held by progressive U.S. Rep. Greg Casar. The newly configured district stretches from San Antonio eastward into Karnes, Wilson, and Guadalupe counties. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Johnny Garcia is running as the Democratic nominee. Rep. Monica De La Cruz.
Voters Access Ballots Ahead of Nov. 3 Election
Voters can review district boundaries and download personalized sample ballots through official state resources, including the Texas Legislative Council redistricting portal. With multiple open seats and shifted political dynamics across Bexar County, the outcome on Nov. 3 will redefine San Antonio’s voice in Washington.