Bexar County Politics: Three Freshmen Millennials Take State House Seats
Zack Dunn, Adrian Reyna, and Kristian Carranza won their districts on the first ballot, flipping long-held Republican seats in San Antonio.
By Robert Ward ·
The 2026 midterm elections delivered a wave of new leadership to the Texas House of Representatives in Bexar County. Three first-time legislators, all under the age of 40, secured their seats in San Antonio districts that had previously elected Republicans.
Zack Dunn defeated incumbent Rep. Marc LaHood in House District 121 on the North Side. The district had not elected a Democrat since 1981. Dunn won with 54.06% of the vote in a race where school vouchers dominated the debate. He currently works in the Family Violence Division at the Bexar County District Attorney's office.
Adrian Reyna, a 39-year-old public schoolteacher and union leader, won House District 125 on the West Side with 67.53% of the vote. He replaces retired Rep. Ray Lopez. Reyna serves as vice president of the San Antonio Alliance, a union for district teachers and staff. He is the son of former state Rep. Arthur Reyna, who held the seat from 1997 to 2001.
Kristian Carranza flipped House District 118 on the South Side with 61.69% of the vote. She becomes the first Latina to represent the district. Carranza previously ran against Rep. John Lujan in 2024 and raised more money than any first-time state House candidate in Texas history. Lujan vacated the seat to run for Congress this year.
All three winners campaigned heavily on education issues. The 89th Texas Legislative Session passed a school voucher program and numerous mandates that drew criticism from public school advocates. Dunn called the voucher program a scam that took a billion dollars from public education. Carranza plans to call for an audit of the program and eventually overturn it. Reyna said he will focus on fully funding schools and supporting mental health resources.
The Democratic wave extended beyond the state House. Texans elected Democrats to every statewide race, including the governor's office and the Senate. Democrats also flipped the overall control of the Texas House. This shift occurred despite heavy spending by national groups to retain Republican incumbents in the Bexar County area.
Local voters showed a mixed sentiment toward education funding. While electing pro-public education lawmakers to Austin, voters in several local school districts rejected school bonds and tax rate increases. The 90th Texas Legislative Session begins in January. Lawmakers are expected to address tighter budgets, declining enrollment, and the first year of the school voucher program.
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones attended an election watch party for Carranza and Congressional candidate Johnny Garcia. Jones said the Southside community would finally be well represented. She noted that strong voices are needed to maximize the new political moment in both state and federal government.
