One of the most visible members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet is headed to San Antonio to raise money for Republican congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, and went on to draw major attention for his controversial views on vaccines and other medical issues, which at times put him at odds with fellow Republicans.
On Friday, the Republican Party of Bexar County promoted a May 2 fundraising event with Kennedy in San Antonio, though the exact location was not disclosed in the invitation.
Kennedy is expected to give remarks at the general reception, according to the invitation.
His visit comes on the heels of another unusual visit from a high-ranking White House official, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who was in San Antonio earlier this month.
De La Cruz, the congressional candidate, is in the midst of a tough GOP primary runoff on San Antonio’s Southeast Side.
Read more: The San Antonio Report’s 2026 Republican Primary Runoff Voter Guide
The new 35th Congressional District district is ground zero in the Trump administration’s effort to squeeze more Republican lawmakers out of Texas in 2026.
But the conservative Texas Legislature drew it for one of their own, state Rep. John Lujan (R-San Antonio), who they believed would give the party their best chance at winning it in November.
At the eleventh-hour, Trump and House GOP leaders endorsed De La Cruz, who finished a close second behind Lujan in the March primary.
Now the two must face off in a May 26 primary runoff, where Democrats are also still deciding the nominee for this race.
Battle over new territory
Meet the runoff candidates for a redrawn TX35.
- Johnny Garcia (D)
- Maureen Galindo (D)
- John Lujan (R)
- Carlos De La Cruz (R)
De La Cruz is the brother of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Edinburg), and his connections in D.C. have been paying off big in his race with Lujan.
“It’s an honor to have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in our corner and here in Texas — another sign of the momentum we’re building with President Trump’s endorsement,” De La Cruz said in a statement Friday. ” … I look forward to working with him in Washington to ensure America’s children and families are stronger and healthier.”
De La Cruz raised about $220,000 between Feb. 12 and March 31 — more than any other congressional candidate running to represent the Bexar County area — and cashed checks from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota), among others.
Lujan, meanwhile, says he’s counting on more local support, pointing to his long list of endorsements from Gov. Greg Abbott, state Rep. Marc LaHood (R-San Antonio) and other elected officials in the district’s more rural parts.
De La Cruz’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the event with Kennedy.
