U.S. House, Texas 35th Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Texas's 35th Congressional District?
Johnny Garcia has the strongest record in Texas's 35th Congressional District. Johnny Garcia scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Carlos De La Cruz at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Johnny Garcia's highest marks are communication and roots in the constituency. Carlos De La Cruz's highest marks are communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Carlos De La Cruz
On the ballot as CARLOS DE LA CRUZ
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Johnny Garcia
On the ballot as JOHNNY C. GARCIA
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Carlos De La Cruz. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed June 13, 2026, and committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10080038, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Johnny Garcia. House candidate financial disclosures were filed Dec. 5, 2025 and June 15, 2026, and committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10081084, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Carlos De La Cruz. No public record found.
Johnny Garcia. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Carlos De La Cruz. Took part in a Feb. 3, 2026 Republican primary debate hosted by the Republican Party of Bexar County. No 2026 general election debate was found, and none was reported declined.
Johnny Garcia. Took part in a League of Women Voters Democratic candidate forum on May 6, 2026. No 2026 general election debate was found, and none was reported declined.
Source: San Antonio Report
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Carlos De La Cruz. No public record found.
Johnny Garcia. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Carlos De La Cruz. Served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force with deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Mexican border. No official finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Carlos De La Cruz
Johnny Garcia. Sworn Bexar County sheriff's deputy for nearly two decades. No misuse-of-office finding found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Carlos De La Cruz. Twenty-year Air Force career, then co-founded a kickboxing gym in San Antonio. Has not held public office; no command or rank is documented.
Source: Ballotpedia, Carlos De La Cruz
Johnny Garcia. Nearly two decades with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office as a jail officer, patrol deputy, hostage negotiator and public information officer. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Johnny Garcia, Texas Tribune, Sept. 30, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Carlos De La Cruz. Campaign mission page covers the border, economy, seniors, veterans, energy and agriculture in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Mission
Johnny Garcia. Campaign issues page covers costs, housing, health care and a congressional stock trading ban in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Carlos De La Cruz. Answered the San Antonio Report's candidate questionnaire, publishes an issues page and debated in the Republican primary. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: San Antonio Report, candidate questionnaire, Campaign site, Mission, San Antonio Report, photo caption, Ballotpedia, Carlos De La Cruz
Johnny Garcia. Answered the San Antonio Report's candidate questionnaire, publishes an issues page and spoke at a League of Women Voters forum. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: San Antonio Report, candidate questionnaire, Campaign site, Issues, San Antonio Report
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Carlos De La Cruz. Says he has deep San Antonio roots and built a San Antonio business after the Air Force; his home address is not documented. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 76 percent of itemized individual contributions from Texas.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Carlos, FEC contribution totals by state
Johnny Garcia. Born and raised in San Antonio and has served Bexar County, which is in the district, as a deputy for nearly two decades. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 26 percent of itemized individual contributions from Texas.
Sources: San Antonio Report, candidate questionnaire, Texas Tribune, Sept. 30, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Carlos De La Cruz. Committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Johnny Garcia. Committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Carlos De La Cruz. No public record found.
Johnny Garcia. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Carlos De La Cruz. No public record found.
Johnny Garcia. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Carlos De La Cruz. No public record found.
Johnny Garcia. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Carlos De La Cruz. No public record found.
Johnny Garcia. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Carlos De La Cruz. No public record found.
Johnny Garcia. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Texas's 35th Congressional District?
Johnny Garcia has the strongest record in Texas's 35th Congressional District. Johnny Garcia scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Carlos De La Cruz at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Johnny Garcia's highest marks are communication and roots in the constituency. Carlos De La Cruz's highest marks are communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Texas's 35th Congressional District in 2026?
CARLOS DE LA CRUZ (Republican), JOHNNY C. GARCIA (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Carlos De La Cruz a good candidate for Congress?
Carlos De La Cruz scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Johnny Garcia a good candidate for Congress?
Johnny Garcia scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Texas race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Texas 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.