San Antonio – On Wednesday evening, Republican hopeful Jorge Borrego was a no‑show at a League of Women Voters candidate forum for Texas House District 118. The event, held in the Sydney Board Room at Brooks City Base, was intended to give the roughly 60 attendees an opportunity to hear both Borrego and Democrat Kristian Carranza discuss their platforms before the November election.
Forum canceled after Borrego’s absence
League of Women Voters San Antonio Chapter President Jill Tolbert announced at 6:20 p.m. that the forum could not proceed with only one candidate present. “I am so thrilled that so many people came out to see a candidate forum tonight … but Jorge Borrego is a no‑show,” Tolbert told the crowd, citing league rules that require participation from all listed candidates.
Supporters in the audience tried to reach Borrego by phone. He later explained that an “incident” on the other side of town prevented him from arriving in time. Event organizer Claire Oxley said she received an email from Borrego at 4:13 p.m. stating he would be unable to attend, noting she had already left for the venue and did not check her email until returning home.
Borrego offers future debate opportunities
After the cancellation, Borrego said he remains willing to debate Carranza twice before Election Day—once in Spanish and once in English. “I know many voters are eager to hear from both sides, so I would like to offer an opportunity to debate Carranza twice before election day, first in Spanish and then in English,” he said.
Both candidates are relatively new to local politics. Carranza, 36, and Borrego, 30, have only shared one public forum—a closed August 4 event hosted by the South Texas Business Partnership. No additional joint appearances are scheduled before the Nov. 3 election.
Background on the race
The District 118 seat is being vacated by Rep. John Lujan (R‑San Antonio). While Texas’s legislative map heavily favors Republicans, this district is considered one of the few competitive state legislative races, with Democrats viewing it as a must‑win for gaining influence in the Texas House.
Borrego secured the GOP nomination by defeating local trial attorney Desi Martinez, who had Lujan’s endorsement. He previously worked in the Texas Legislature and for an Austin‑based think tank, but he is a newcomer to electoral politics.
Voter reaction
Attendees expressed disappointment at missing a chance to compare the candidates directly. Carranza told the audience, “I’m a little disappointed that you, as the voters, didn’t get the opportunity to hear from your two candidates. This is such an important election. This is such an important district.”
Arthur A. Gonzalez, 42, said he had come hoping to meet both candidates in person. “I wanted to see both of them in the same place. That’s what the appeal was to me,” he said.
Next steps
The League of Women Voters plans to explore rescheduling the forum for another date, though no new date has been set. In the meantime, voters will have to rely on the candidates’ individual statements, campaign events, and the upcoming primary and general‑election ballots to make an informed choice.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
