Full Breakdown
Texas Democratic Candidate Johnny Garcia’s Police Suspensions Resurface Amid Redistricted Congressional Race
By Drooid · · How we work
Garcia’s Disciplinary Record and Campaign Context
Public-records requests reveal that Johnny Garcia, a longtime Bexar County deputy now running as the Democratic nominee for Texas’ newly redrawn 35th congressional district, received two unpaid suspensions while on the sheriff’s force. The first, in 2009, was a three-day suspension for bringing a cellular device into a secured jail area after repeated warnings. The second, in 2020, was a five-day suspension after Garcia left a Glock pistol, four magazines and his badge in his vehicle, where the firearm was later stolen and subsequently recovered. Garcia’s campaign has highlighted his two-decade law-enforcement career as a central credential in a race against Republican Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz. The seat is open after Rep. Greg Casar, a progressive Democrat, shifted to the neighboring 37th district following a 2024 redistricting that altered the 35th’s boundaries.
Timeline of Suspensions
- 2009: 3-day unpaid suspension for violating policy on electronic devices in a secure area.
- 2020: 5-day unpaid suspension for failing to secure county-issued firearm and equipment, resulting in temporary loss of the weapon.
Official Statements & Responses
Deputy Noel Diaz said the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office applied Civil Service Commission guidelines to each incident and that the suspensions represented the agency’s final disciplinary decisions. Garcia’s campaign responded by emphasizing his nearly two decades of service, arguing that the allegations are politically motivated attacks meant to distract from broader economic concerns.
Campaign Dynamics and Redistricting Impact
The redrawing of the 35th district has turned the contest into a more competitive Democratic-Republican showdown than in prior cycles. Casar, who previously won re-election with 67.4% of the vote, moved to the 37th district, describing the map changes as an effort by “Trump and Abbott” to remove him from office. Garcia’s platform stresses border security, affordability and protection of Social Security, positioning himself as a centrist alternative in the newly configured district.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office handles all policy violations in strict accordance with Civil Service Commission guidelines. Deputy Johnny Garcia served a 3-day unpaid suspension for bringing an electronic device into a secure facility, and a 5-day unpaid suspension for failing to properly secure county issued equipment. The disciplinary actions were the agency's final decision of the incidents,” — Deputy Noel Diaz
- “Trump and Abbott just rammed through maps designed to kick people like me out of office. They don’t want me in Congress because they don’t want us to be heard. But we’re not going anywhere,” — Rep. Greg Casar
- “As a sheriff's deputy, I've spent nearly two decades putting my own safety on the line to protect my community to keep violent criminals off our streets. These politicized claims are Republicans' desperate attempts to distract from the fact that tariffs and his war in Iran have made everything more expensive for working families,” — Johnny Garcia