Republican state Rep. Mark Dorazio (R‑San Antonio) survived a tight race to become the lone GOP lawmaker from the city in a Texas House that Democrats now control, a shift that could affect how San Antonio’s interests are represented at the Capitol.
According to the San Antonio Report, the Associated Press called Dorazio’s race after he led Democratic challenger Shelly Nickels by roughly 1,800 votes. The district, Texas House District 122, also voted for Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Gina Hinojosa with 52.7% of the vote, as noted by political data analyst Bert Santibañez.
Dorazio’s two fellow San Antonio Republicans, Rep. Marc LaHood and Rep. John Lujan, were already out of office. LaHood conceded on election night to Democrat Zack Dunn, who won District 121 with 54% to LaHood’s 46%, marking the first Democratic victory there since 1981. Lujan left his seat to run unsuccessfully for Congress, and his District 118 was won handily by Democrat Kristian Carranza.
With several votes still being counted statewide, Democrats said they expect to claim at least 20 seats in the Texas House, cutting the long‑standing Republican majority from 26 seats to a 14‑seat minority. This new balance means Dorazio will return to the Capitol in January as the only Republican from Bexar County’s ten‑member delegation.
Campaign spending played a notable role. Texas Republicans poured roughly $1.25 million into LaHood’s contest and more than half a million dollars to support Dorazio, according to TPR. By contrast, Nickels, a health‑care executive, spent just $5,600 in the final month of her campaign.
Speaker‑designate Dustin Burrows visited San Antonio to campaign for Dorazio, and Dorazio thanked supporters at an “Angry Elephant” rally, saying, “He shored us up, and I’m grateful for that.” Texas Majority PAC Executive Director Katherine Fischer told TPR that Democrats ran out of time and resources to help all their candidates, adding, “We won a lot of things … so we feel very good. But it’s hard to look at some of these and not kick yourself a little bit.”
What’s next: Dorazio will join a Democratic‑majority House in January, where he is expected to be the sole Republican voice for San Antonio. Residents and local leaders will be watching how his lone vote influences legislation on issues ranging from education funding to public safety.
Sources: sanantonioreport.org, tpr.org
