Exciting Race Heats Up in San Antonio’s House District 118!

Exciting Race Heats Up in San Antonio’s House District 118!

As we gear up for the 2024 general election, one of the hottest races to watch is happening right here in San Antonio, Texas, in House District 118. This district covers the eastern and southern parts of Bexar County, including some rural areas too. With both a seasoned incumbent and a passionate challenger on the ballot, it’s shaping up to be a nail-biter of a contest!

Meet the Candidates

On one side, we have the incumbent Republican, John Lujan, who won the seat in a special election back in 2021. He followed that up with a successful run in the midterms in 2022. Lujan has been active in pushing for border security and has voted multiple times to allocate billions to Operation Lonestar. He also takes a strong stance against abortion and is supportive of school vouchers, which have become a hot topic in this election cycle.

Despite our efforts to reach out to Lujan for comment, he has not responded to multiple calls or messages. However, his campaign website outlines his priorities pretty well.

On the other side of the ring is Kristian Carranza, the Democratic challenger. At 34 years old, Carranza is a proud graduate of McCollum High School and a lifelong resident of San Antonio’s south side. She is running on a platform focused heavily on funding education and emphasizes the need for public schools to be fully funded instead of diverting resources to vouchers. “We are the 8th largest economy in the world. We have the money to do this. It’s all about priorities, and I put our children, our students, and our teachers first,” Carranza declared passionately.

Key Issues at Stake

The race is drawing attention mainly because of its focus on education funding and the controversial school voucher program. Carranza believes that vouchers are taking much-needed funds away from public schools, an issue that she is fervently campaigning against. In contrast, Lujan’s support for vouchers seems to resonate with some voters who are looking for alternatives to traditional public education.

Another issue close to Carranza’s heart is women’s rights and empowerment. She advocates for a stronger focus on these issues rather than allocating more money to border security measures, which she argues have shown limited effectiveness.

Political Insight and Implications

The stakes are incredibly high for both candidates, with political experts like Jon Taylor, the UTSA political science chair, weighing in on how important this race is for the future of education in Texas. “Bexar County could easily determine whether or not Greg Abbott gets his school voucher plan passed next session,” he noted, highlighting how this local battle could have ripple effects throughout the state.

With just a few months to go until the election, both Lujan and Carranza have busy campaigns ahead of them. They are not only vying for votes but also looking to engage with the community on the issues that matter most. It’s clear that this race is going to be a “barn burner,” as Taylor puts it, thrilling both candidates and voters alike.

The Road Ahead

As the days move closer to the election, San Antonio residents can expect to see campaign rallies, town halls, and plenty of debates heating up the discussion. It’s a pivotal time where every vote will count and where the community will need to weigh the pros and cons of both candidates’ platforms.

So, as we look forward to this exciting race in House District 118, get ready to make your voices heard! Stay tuned for further updates as both candidates ramp up their campaigns to win your support!