Private citizen

Carlos De La Cruz is a Republican and retired U.S. Air Force veteran who served 20 years, including deployments to the Middle East and drug interdiction work at the southern border³. After retiring he and his wife opened a kickboxing gym in San Antonio; his sister is U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz³. He won the May 2026 Republican primary runoff for the redrawn 35th District over John Lujan².

Where they stand

• National debt: Cut most spending but protect Social Security and Medicare Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
  • Told the San Antonio Report that Congress must cut spending without compromising the benefits retirees earned, and cannot keep running up debt and printing money. (2026) source
  • His campaign site pledges to defend Social Security and Medicare from wasteful spending that puts earned benefits at risk. (2026) source
• Immigration: Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steady Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign site says the U.S. welcomes legal immigration but must keep securing the border and give Border Patrol the tools and manpower it needs. (2026) source
  • Told the San Antonio Report immigration must be legal, orderly and safe, calling for border infrastructure, personnel and legal authority, going after cartels, and fixing a backlogged legal immigration system. (2026) source
• Healthcare: Private insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditions Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
  • Told the San Antonio Report health care needs more competition, not more government control, and backed price transparency, more coverage options for small businesses and the self-employed, and less red tape for rural clinics. (2026) source
• Energy and climate: Maximize oil and gas; climate rules hurt the economy Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign site pledges to unleash Texas energy and roll back what it calls radical green regulations to achieve energy independence and lower prices. (2026) source
• Politicians trading stocks: No, ban it for members and their spouses Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign site says members of Congress should not be allowed to trade stocks while writing laws that move markets, and that he will vote to ban it. (2026) source
• Transgender athletes: No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed options Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign site says he will fight to keep biological men out of girls' sports. (2026) source

No public position found on: Income taxes, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Judges, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.