MAY 26, 2026 VOTER GUIDE
Early Voting: May 18 - May 22
Election Day: May 26th
This is the May 2026 Democratic Primary Runoff San Antonio Democratic Socialists of America (SADSA) Voters Guide. There are no SADSA-endorsed candidates on the ballot this cycle.
Several community members have reached out to SADSA for a voter guide, so we created one. It is by no means expansive and does not cover every race in our area, but we hope this can help inform your decisions if you’re looking to a socialist organization for electoral advice.
All candidates named in this guide are recommended, and San Antonio DSA has not actively campaigned on their behalf. Candidates and propositions must seek the endorsement of SADSA, as our general membership votes on the decision to endorse.
Our struggles go beyond the ballot box, but it is a site of struggle that we cannot withdraw from or ignore. We can take it back if we fight together.
If you have any questions or comments, please email SanAntonioDSA@gmail.com.
Voters registered in Bexar County can vote at any Bexar County polling center. Visit the Bexar Co. Elections Department website to find voting locations, hours, your individual sample ballot, and more.
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U.S. CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
New Bexar County Congressional Map
June 9, 2025: At the behest of President Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott called for a special session of the Texas legislature to discuss redistricting.
August 29: Gov. Abbott signed new congressional maps into law.
November 18: A federal court in El Paso, Texas, ruled that the map constituted a racial gerrymander, a ruling that would have stopped the map from being used for the 2026 midterms.
November 21: The U.S. Supreme Court approved a request filed by Texas to temporarily block the lower court ruling.
December 4: Supreme Court stayed the District Court ruling in a 6-3 decision that allows Texas to use the map in 2026.
United States Representative, District 35
No Recommendation
Background: Following a fairly close general four-way split, the TX-35 runoff comes down to Maureen Galindo and Johnny Garcia. You’ve got better things to do than be invested in this race. Maureen is broke but being boosted by an (alleged) Pied Piper-style Republican PAC, while Johnny’s funding comes from AIPAC affiliates (namely Democratic Majority for Israel) and Blue Dog Democrats. Unfortunately for Johnny, he’s generally juiceless despite being boosted by the DCCC, and now that the lede has been buried enough, Maureen is certainly on some juice.
Johnny allegedly has internal polling that shows him trailing Maureen, which could only mean it’s time for two things: Opinions & Editorials. Paywall or not, it’s good news for Maureen that no one really reads anymore. For some time, Maureen has dabbled in too close for comfort conspiracies, often right-wing in function and antisemitic in form, but her opposition to US support for Israel is not an example of either of those two issues. The intent of said opinions and editorials is not to shine light on Maureen’s views of the Jewish community, but it’s to try, perhaps one last cycle, to run a tired playbook on a Congressional candidate. Johnny could nip much of this in the bud by joining the majority of Democratic voters in opposition to sending arms to Israel, but he hasn’t done that and his campaign has no idea how to deal with these spiritual forces. A millennial unc cop has no power against a terminally online, Lavaca crystal mami.
STATE RACES
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Recommendation: Marcos Vélez
Background: Marcos put up a good showing in March and we hope runoff voters will take notice. Marcos is a former oilworker who surprised politicos in March by forcing a runoff against Vicki Goodwin. While both candidates will put up a good fight against the little governor, we support the contrast of a candidate of the working class to go up against Dan Patrick.
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Recommendation: Nathan Johnson
Background: There may be little political daylight between State Senator Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski, but we’re recommending Johnson. Johnson is endorsed by the AFL-CIO which we hope will help him pick up steam against whomever comes out the Republican primary.
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Recommendation: Adrian Reyna
Background: In the HD 125 runoff, we recommend SAISD teacher Adrian Reyna. It’s surprising he’s facing off against former Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, but little has changed since March. Adrian is a longtime member of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel and serves as one of their Vice-Presidents. His background as a union member comes as a breath of fresh air just as a new report from the Center for Working Class Politics shows that Labor wins when they run their members for office. Adrian’s campaign has built a strong coalition of movement groups, unions, and membership organizations to organize locally while the Lege is not in session.
COUNTY
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Recommendation: Jane Davis
Our two co-recommended candidates from the primary who did not make it to the runoff have gotten behind Jane Davis – and it’s not hard to see why. Davis’ opponent, Luz Elena Chapa, has the backing of the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association and the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Bexar County and thinks the county needs to be Tougher on Crime, without clarifying the specifics. The dual law enforcement union endorsements are black marks for any candidate, particularly one running for district attorney with such little experience. Has anyone asked why a “union” which greeted Trump on the tarmac a decade ago is endorsing in the Democratic primary? Times are that tough, huh? Meanwhile, the local AFL-CIO is behind Davis, as is current District Attorney Joe Gonzales. Gonzales has not been the proletariat District Attorney his opponents claim, but his advocacy for cite-and-release and bail reform policies is commendable, and Davis certainly resembles him in her calls for expanded jail diversion programs and bail reform. We’re not fans of prosecutors, but in this case, the choice is clear.
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Recommendation: Shannon Roberta Salmón
Background: Judicial races are often hard to parse, but In this runoff we’re recommending Shannon Roberta Salmón. Court at Law 10 often deals with evictions, which often puts the full weight of the judicial system behind the landlord. Salmón seeks to bring whatever amount of balance to that Court that’s possible.
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No Recommendation
Background: Chris Castillo narrowly missed victory in 2022 where she lost to now incumbent Gloria Martinez. There has not been enough shown from either candidate for us to recommend in this race.
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No Recommendation
Background: Incumbent Lucy Adame-Clark fell into a runoff against Cynthia Castro. Regardless of how this race plays out, we’re sure the next cycle will see more calls for “modernizing” and “transparency” for this county position. Hey, they may even do it this time!