In San Antonio's Bexar County, the once purple political hue is looking significantly more indigo, given the dearth of Republican politicians holding local office. Following a march towards right-wing ideology at higher levels of government, the local impact has been a dilution in the party's influence and presence, to an extent of near extinction in the area. A recent San Antonio Report sheds light on this shift, noting the slimming of Republican seats to a handful.
Reluctance among conservatives to pursue local officer is visibly mounting in the wake of an ongoing ideological split within the Republican Party. State House Rep. Steve Allison's primary defeat is seen as a blow to the party's old guard, marking a consequential retreat from the traditional conservative politics that once held some sway in this deeply blue county. "No offense to you all, but I just didn’t see us developing that next generation," Lina Prado, an airline executive and Republican running in Precinct 1, told the San Antonio Report, signaling a palpable void in the cultivation of GOP candidates for future elections.
Efforts to reignite the Republican flame on a local level, such as the formation of the San Antonio Young Republicans club, seem pitted against the tide of leadership turnover and an entrenched Democratic stronghold. The recent retirement of Bexary County Judge Nelson Wolff, after more than two decades, didn't stir much in the way of Republican candidacy, with GOP Commissioner Trish DeBerry deciding late in the game to throw her hat in the ring, ultimately losing out with less than 40% of the vote.
The shifting tides within San Antonio's political landscape alludes to a more strategic alliance formation amongst those with conservative leanings. Political strategist Kelton Morgan, working with the San Antonio Equity Alliance PAC — which backs pro-business candidates — noted a pivot towards moderate Democrats, given the local political climate. "There’s not an effort to recruit Republicans to run for local office, if for no other reason than we’re cognizant of where we live," Morgan expressed.
With municipal elections looming in 2025, the conservative camp treads lightly, aware of the challenges faced in mounting successful campaigns. Former Councilman Clayton Perry is one of the few names to surface in mayoral race considerations, despite his tarnished political reputation following a 2022 DUI charge. Meanwhile, dissent and splintering within the party continue to dampen Republican prospects, as seen in confrontations between Councilman Marc Whyte and Greater Harmony Hills Neighborhood Association over differing views on local development projects.
Democrats, on the lookout to capitalize on GOP fractures, have directed their gaze towards the few remaining Republican seats in the Texas Legislature. Such a climate underscores the Republican Party of Bexar County's struggle to harmonize both moderate and hardline elements within its ranks, even as internal pressures to adhere to a stringent conservative ideology persist. In spite of these pressures, the GOP's attempt to maintain a unity of purpose and candidates ahead of the November elections appears as an uphill battle against the prevailing political winds of Bexar County.
