What started as a sleepy South Side primary has turned into a full-blown brawl, after a wave of out-of-district cash crashed into the race to replace state Rep. John Lujan in Texas House District 118.
Jorge Borrego, a 30-year-old education policy specialist who helped shape Gov. Greg Abbott’s education savings account plan, reported roughly $360,000 in his latest campaign filings, much of it from state and national political committees. The money surge has pushed attorney Desi Martinez into defense mode and brought Abbott to a San Antonio-area barbecue to fire up supporters.
As reported by the San Antonio Report, campaign finance filings covering Jan. 23 through Feb. 21 show state and national PACs pouring money into the South Side GOP primary, with outside groups running TV and digital ads that have scrambled what had looked like a low-key contest.
Record Filings: Who Paid And What They Bought
Campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission list Borrego’s receipts and in-kind support at about $357,945.99 for the reporting period ending Feb. 21, including multiple in-kind entries for polling and political advertising. A Feb. 19 in-kind line item from Texans for Lawsuit Reform alone is listed at $90,000, according to the Texas Ethics Commission.
Why A Tort-Reform PAC Is Spending Here
Texans for Lawsuit Reform has been aggressively backing candidates who favor limits on lawsuits and other business-friendly policies, and San Antonio has turned into a proving ground for that push. The San Antonio Express-News has documented how the group and other corporate donors have funneled large sums into local GOP primaries this cycle, turning intraparty skirmishes into expensive proxy battles.
Borrego’s Policy Pedigree
Borrego previously worked on education policy with the Texas Public Policy Foundation and has been a visible advocate for Education Savings Accounts, the school choice program passed during the last legislative session. The think tank lists him as a K-12 policy figure who has spoken on ESAs and implementation at its events, according to the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Martinez’s Local Ties And Defenses
Desi Martinez, a South Side attorney recruited by outgoing Rep. John Lujan, has leaned hard on his local roots and insisted he supports school choice, even after previously running as a Democrat, according to the San Antonio Report. His campaign website highlights priorities such as public safety and economic development, while underscoring his legal career and community work, per the Desi Martinez campaign.
What’s At Stake In HD 118
District 118, which covers much of south Bexar County, has been one of the more competitive House seats and will be one to watch this fall, according to the Texas Tribune. The GOP primary outcome will help determine whether Republicans can hold a seat that Democrats view as winnable, and the outside spending has made the result harder to predict.
With the March 3 primary fast approaching, the influx of out-of-district money and Abbott’s high-profile visit have turned a once-quiet South Side race into one of the area’s most closely watched political showdowns. Campaign finance filings with the Texas Ethics Commission spell out the timing and size of the donations that changed the contest.
.jpg){kind=link}