Democrat Katy Padilla Stout, a San Antonio attorney and former teacher, won the nomination in TX-23 as the race shifts after Tony Gonzales’ announcement.
SAN ANTONIO — Voters in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District will choose between Democratic nominee Katy Padilla Stout and Republican nominee Brandon Herrera in November, setting up a contest that could once again draw national attention to one of the state’s most competitive congressional seats.
The race shifted dramatically this week after Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales announced he will not seek reelection following controversy surrounding an alleged affair with a former staffer.
With Gonzales out of the race, Herrera — a gun-rights YouTuber known online as “The AK Guy” — will likely secure the Republican nomination, eliminating the need for a GOP runoff in May.
Padilla Stout, a San Antonio attorney and former teacher, won the Democratic nomination outright.
“In the 23rd especially you’re gonna have two very different choices to choose,” Padilla Stout said.
Texas’ 23rd Congressional District stretches roughly 550 miles from San Antonio to El Paso along the U.S.-Mexico border and is one of the largest congressional districts in the country. The majority-Hispanic district includes dozens of rural communities and military families and has long been considered one of Texas’ most competitive political battlegrounds.
Until about a decade ago, the seat frequently flipped between Democrats and Republicans.
Padilla Stout said she believes the tone of national politics is pushing more voters to pay attention to the race.
“People who typically don’t pay attention to politics are starting to tune in because we have to,” she said. “And they’re saying, ‘Hold on a minute — we don’t go that far.’”
Born and raised in San Antonio and a graduate of Lee High School, Padilla Stout left the city to attend the University of Texas at Austin before earning her law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. She later returned to San Antonio to raise her family and now practices law alongside her father.
Padilla Stout said her father’s story shaped her understanding of opportunity and public service. He worked as a migrant farm worker in South Texas beginning at age 7 before eventually becoming an attorney.
“To me that is the American dream,” she said. “That is what we are here for and that is what we are here to protect.”
Padilla Stout is also a mother of four and a former kindergarten teacher in Northside ISD. She said her experience in the classroom continues to influence how she approaches leadership.
“I think being a teacher is really akin to being a congressperson,” she said. “You have to meet people where they are. You try to see how you can help them shine and reach their full potential.”
She said a traumatic moment during her time teaching — hiding in a closet with 25 kindergarten students during an active shooter situation — also shaped her decision to enter politics.
“I saw this extremism take hold,” Padilla Stout said. “And when I heard that the person who might win this election would be Brandon Herrera, if Tony Gonzales were to lose, my heart sank for the county of Uvalde.”
The district includes Uvalde, where a 2022 school shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers brought national attention to debates over gun policy and school safety.
Padilla Stout has also served since 2017 on the Bexar County Child Welfare Board and sits on the board of Artvango Therapeutic Services, a nonprofit focused on helping children recover from abuse and trauma.
Padilla Stout said her work with vulnerable children and families has given her a close look at the financial struggles many households face. Many families across the district are also concerned about rising costs for everyday necessities.
“The single greatest issue facing this district is affordability,” she said.
She said voters frequently raise concerns about grocery prices, higher education costs and access to affordable health care. Padilla Stout also warned that cuts to federal nutrition programs such as SNAP could make it harder for families to afford food.
Gonzales, first elected in 2020, represented the sprawling border district through several closely watched elections. His decision not to seek reelection reshaped the race and cleared the path for Herrera to become the Republican nominee.
Bexar County Elections Administrator, Michele Carew, told KENS 5 Gonzales has a dropout deadline he must meet according to the Texas Election Code. Once he officially drops out, Carew says Herrera will be declared the winner.
Herrera gained national attention during the primary campaign through his social media presence and advocacy for gun rights.
In a statement issued Friday, Herrera said he is ready to unite Republicans and earn the trust of voters across the district.
He said his priorities include securing the border, lowering costs for families and addressing challenges facing the region, including rural hospital closures, water rights and ensuring veterans receive the benefits they were promised.
The November election will determine who represents the sprawling border district in Congress.