Johnny Garcia, the Democratic candidate for Congress in Texas’ newly redrawn 35th District, faced two unpaid suspensions during his tenure with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, according to public records obtained by Fox News Digital. The disciplinary actions, occurring in 2009 and 2020, cited insubordination and job performance issues, bringing new scrutiny to Garcia’s law enforcement background as he campaigns against Republican candidate Carlos De La Cruz in a race significantly reshaped by redistricting.
The first suspension occurred in 2009 after Garcia carried a cellular device into a secure jail area, violating repeated instructions and policy. The second suspension, in 2020, resulted from Garcia leaving a Glock firearm, four magazines, and his badge in an unsecured vehicle, where they were subsequently stolen. The firearm was later recovered after Garcia reported it missing. In both instances, Garcia served unpaid suspensions of three days and five days, respectively. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office confirmed these were the only disciplinary actions Garcia faced.
What the Right Is Saying
The Republican candidate, Carlos De La Cruz, an Air Force veteran, is positioned by GOP operatives as a strong alternative in a district that Republicans believe they can now win due to redistricting. The focus on Garcia’s disciplinary record aligns with a broader Republican strategy to highlight perceived weaknesses in Democratic candidates’ professional backgrounds. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, in a statement, maintained that disciplinary actions are handled independently and in strict accordance with Civil Service Commission guidelines, noting that Deputy Noel Diaz stated, "The disciplinary actions were the agency's final decision of the incidents."
Republicans argue that the newly drawn maps reflect a fairer representation of the region’s political leanings, allowing for a more competitive race. The GOP narrative suggests that Garcia’s centrist positioning is insufficient to overcome the structural advantages gained through the redistricting process, which they contend was legally upheld by the Supreme Court in a recent ruling striking down a lower court block on the Texas map.
What the Left Is Saying
Garcia’s campaign has not issued a detailed rebuttal to the specific disciplinary records but emphasizes his broader service history, including work as a hostage negotiator and his focus on border security. Garcia describes himself as an "old school Democrat" who believes public safety requires more than rhetoric. His campaign platform highlights affordability, Social Security protection, and border security, with Garcia stating he witnessed firsthand how "Biden failed us on the border."
When asked about the two suspensions, Garcia’s campaign pointed back at his record with safety as a law enforcement officer. He joined the sheriff’s office at the age of 21, working with the county jail before becoming a hostage negotiator. The campaign argues that his experience in these roles demonstrates a commitment to public safety that transcends the isolated policy violations noted in the disciplinary files.
Rep. Greg Casar, the progressive incumbent who previously represented the district before redistricting, framed the political landscape as one where Republicans targeted his electoral advantage. Casar stated, "Trump and Abbott just rammed through maps designed to kick people like me out of office. They don’t want me in Congress because they don’t want us to be heard. But we’re not going anywhere." Casar’s move to the neighboring 37th District was part of a strategy to retain a Democratic seat in the face of changed boundaries.
What the Numbers Show
In the 2024 election, Rep. Greg Casar won re-election in the old 35th District with 67.4% of the vote against his opponent’s 32.6%. The newly redrawn 35th District is expected to be significantly more competitive in the upcoming midterms. Garcia served a three-day unpaid suspension in 2009 and a five-day unpaid suspension in 2020. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office confirmed no other forms of discipline were imposed on Garcia as a result of these two incidents. The redistricting changes were passed last year, prompting Casar to seek re-election in the 37th District instead.
The Bottom Line
The release of Garcia’s disciplinary records introduces a new layer of scrutiny into a race that has become pivotal for control of the House. With the district’s political composition altered by redistricting, the contest between Garcia and De La Cruz is viewed as a key indicator of Democratic viability in Texas under the new map. Voters will weigh Garcia’s law enforcement experience against the documented policy violations as they decide whether to maintain a Democratic hold on the seat or shift it to Republican control in the upcoming midterms.