State Representative, Texas House District 117

Philip Cortez is a San Antonio Democrat who was first elected to the Texas House in 2012, lost the seat in 2014 and won it back in 2016¹. He is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a former San Antonio City Council member², and he chairs the House Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee¹. He faces Republican Ben Mostyn on Nov. 3, 2026³.

Where they stand 21 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolshigh

  Questionnaire answer · high confidence

  • Voted yes on the Raney amendment, which removed the education savings account (voucher) program from HB 1; the House adopted it 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
  • Voted no on SB 2, which created a state education savings account program that can pay for private school; the House passed it 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
  • In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide he said he has consistently opposed voucher programs and now supports efforts to prevent expansion of the education savings account pilot program and to ensure public schools receive adequate support. (2026) source
• Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 11, which allows schools to set a period for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
• Texas power gridPay for more backup natural gas plantsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 2627, which created state loans for new or upgraded dispatchable power plants; it passed the House 118 to 23. (2023-05-23) source
• Mandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 6, which created new offenses and increased criminal penalties for certain fentanyl-related offenses; it passed the House 124 to 21. (2023-04-28) source
• Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 10 in the 2025 second special session, which lowered the voter-approval tax rate limit for certain local governments; it passed the House 78 to 52 but did not become law. (2025-08-25) source
  • In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide he said he played a key role in passing SB 4 and SB 23 (2025 property tax relief for homeowners and vulnerable Texans), passed HB 3234 to save Bexar County taxpayers $14 million, and supported a 13th check for retirees. (2026) source
• MarijuanaDecriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)medium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 441 (2021), which reduced criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 88 to 40 but not the Senate. (2021-04-30) source
  • Voted yes on HB 218 (2023), which reduced criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 87 to 59 but not the Senate. (2023-04-27) source
  • Voted yes on HB 46 (2025), which expanded the state's medical low-THC cannabis program; it passed the House 122 to 21. (2025-05-13) source
  • Voted yes on SB 3, which would have banned most consumable hemp-derived THC products; it passed the House 87 to 54 and was later vetoed by the governor. (2025-05-22) source
• Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on the final version of HB 18 (2023), which requires digital services to verify users' ages, give parents tools and limit harmful content for minors; the House approved it 120 to 21. (2023-05-28) source
  • Voted yes on HB 186, which would have prohibited minors from using social media platforms; it passed the House 116 to 25 but did not become law. (2025-04-30) source
• Childcare and pre-KTarget free pre-K and subsidies to low-income and priority familiesmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Was a joint author of HB 190 (2025), relating to a grant program to provide free or reduced-tuition prekindergarten classes to certain children. (2025-02) source
  • Was a joint author of HB 225 (2025), relating to a pilot program to provide grants for free or reduced-tuition prekindergarten classes to certain children. (2025-02) source
• AbortionNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 8, the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans most abortions after cardiac activity is detected and is enforced through private lawsuits; it passed the House 83 to 64. (2021-05-06) source
  • Voted no on HB 1280, the law banning abortion if Roe v. Wade was overturned, with an exception only to save the life or a major bodily function of the mother; it passed the House 81 to 61. (2021-05-06) source
  • Voted no on HB 7, which set prohibitions on making and providing abortion-inducing drugs and allows private lawsuits; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
• GunsNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on the final version of HB 1927, which allows adults to carry handguns without a license; the House adopted it 82 to 62. (2021-05-23) source
• Election rulesNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on the final version of SB 1 (2021), the election law overhaul that added ID requirements for mail ballots and banned drive-through and 24-hour voting; the House adopted it 80 to 41. (2021-08-31) source
• Transgender athletesNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on HB 25, which requires K-12 athletes to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 76 to 54. (2021-10-14) source
  • Voted no on SB 15, which requires college athletes at public universities to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
• Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 14, which banned gender transition procedures and treatments for minors; the House passed it 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
• DEI programsNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 17, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and related practices at public colleges; it passed the House 83 to 62. (2023-05-22) source
• China policyNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 17, which restricts purchases of Texas real property by certain foreign governments, entities and people, including from China; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
• ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 4, which made illegal entry into Texas a state crime and allowed state judges to order people to leave the country; it passed the House 83 to 61. (2023-11-14) source
  • Voted no on SB 8, which requires certain sheriffs to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
• RedistrictingNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on HB 4, the 2025 mid-decade redrawing of Texas congressional districts; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
• School vaccinesNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on HB 1586, which made the school vaccine exemption affidavit form easier to obtain; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source
• Policing and crimeNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on HB 1900, which penalizes large cities that cut police budgets; it passed the House 90 to 49. (2021-05-07) source
  • Voted yes on SB 9, which tightened bail procedures and regulated charitable bail groups; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
• Housing and growthNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
  • Voted no on the final version of SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; the House approved it 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
• Curriculum and booksNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on HB 900, which regulated library materials sold to or kept in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
  • Voted no on SB 13, which set up local school library advisory councils and parental rights over school library materials; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) source
  • Voted no on the final version of SB 13 (2025), which set up local school library advisory councils and gave parents more say over school library materials; the House approved it 81 to 48. (2025-05-31) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, AI data centers, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Drug prices, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate.