Swift wants to defeat LaHood and end the Republican stronghold in Texas House District 121

Read the latest elections and political headlines on the site Vote 2024 page.. See this Full vote here and information about Where can you vote here?.

Criminal defense attorney in San Antonio Marc LaHood used a late wave of support and the backing of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this spring to upset state Rep. Steve Allison in the Republican primary for Texas House District 121.

Allison, a school voucher opponent and three-term incumbent, blamed Abbott for his defeat in the March primary election and told media on election night that the governor was targeting “quality representatives.”

Now LaHood is running against the Democrats Laurel Jordan Swift in the November 5 election after easily defeating Shekhar Sinha in that party’s March primary.

According to her campaign website, Swift, like Allison, opposes voucher programs and has made public education a major focus of her candidacy for the Texas House.

In fact, Allison Swift endorsed LaHood over fellow Republican when early voting began, the Quorum Report says.

The district includes Alamo Heights, Olmos Park and parts of north San Antonio. Before Allison, moderate Republican Joe Straus held the seat for a decade and a half and was the longtime speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

What the candidates say

“This election cycle is about good, hard-working people taking power back into their own hands. Texas doesn’t need any more politicians. We need leaders who will revitalize our education system, secure our borders and continue to build one of the strongest economies in the world,” LaHood said in a written statement to KSAT.

“I think people in District 121 and across the state agree on more things than we disagree. We want our government officials to work across party lines to solve the problems facing Texas today. This is how I want to represent my neighbors in this district,” Swift said in a written statement to KSAT.

Campaign finance

LaHood received nearly $360,000 in political donations from early July to late September and had more than $108,000 in cash, according to the most recent campaign spending report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

The donations include more than $50,000 in digital advertising and other in-kind donations from the Greg Abbott campaign, state records show.

According to Texas Ethics Commission records, Swift’s campaign received more than $378,000 in political contributions from early July to late September.

Records show Swift had just under $58,000 in cash at the end of last month.

Swift’s top contributors included a public employee union and Annie’s List, a Texas-based political action committee that supports progressive women seeking elected office at the state and local levels.

Early voting begins October 21st and runs through November 1st.

Election day is Tuesday, November 5th.