Sylvia Soto is a teacher who has a master’s in bilingual, multilingual and multicultural education from Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She’s running unopposed for the Republican nomination in Texas House District 124 and will face state Rep. Josey Garcia (D-San Antonio) on the general election ballot in November. Soto ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 2024.
Hear from the candidate
1. Please tell voters about yourself.
I am a lifelong San Antonio resident, born on the Westside and living in House District 124, where my grandparents built their home generations ago. I am the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants and the child of a construction worker who taught me the values of hard work, integrity, and service.
I am a bilingual math and science teacher, a first-generation college graduate, and a small business owner providing tutoring services to local families. I hold five higher-education degrees, including a Bachelor of Science in Biology, an MBA, two additional master’s degrees in business, and a master’s degree in bilingual education. I am currently pursuing a degree in educational administration.
I have served as an election judge for over a decade, a lay lector at Mission San José, an ombudsman, and a national congressional intern. When elected, I will be the first woman born and raised in San Antonio—beginning on the Westside—to represent this district, bringing lived experience, accountability, and results-driven leadership to the Texas House.
2. Briefly describe your top policy priorities.
My top priorities are affordability, education, public safety, and opportunity. I support eliminating property taxes for seniors age 62 and over so they can remain in their homes, retire with dignity, and avoid having to choose between food, medicine, or housing.
Education is the foundation of economic stability. As an educator, I strongly support fully funding public schools, expanding early childhood education, strengthening career and technical pathways, and investing in workforce development that leads to real jobs. Education is the most effective way to break cycles of poverty and create long-term opportunity.
I also support investing in law enforcement and our military to ensure safe, stable communities where families can thrive. Public safety and economic opportunity go hand in hand. District 124 includes ZIP code 78207, one of the most economically challenged areas in Texas. Addressing poverty requires coordinated solutions—education, housing stability, job creation, and tax relief that prioritizes people.
3. What would you like to see the legislature do to make Texas cities better places to live? In what ways could state officials work better with local officials?
The Legislature can make Texas cities better by focusing on affordability, school funding, and public safety. I’m running because I have seen the challenges in our community—and they continue today. High crime, school closures, and families struggling to make ends meet affect too many neighbors.
Eliminating property taxes—especially for seniors—helps keep housing affordable and prevents displacement. The state must fully fund schools so cities aren’t forced to close campuses, including those on the Westside and in the Edgewood district, displacing teachers and students and leaving neighborhoods without strong anchors. Supporting law enforcement and military families strengthens community safety.
For decades, I have worked with federal, state, county, city, and local leaders as a community advocate, election judge, and congressional intern. I know real progress comes from collaboration, listening, and teamwork. We all want the same for our families: safe streets, strong schools, and affordable housing, and together we can achieve it.
4. Texas has taken major steps to reshape its public education system, including allowing taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition. What do you believe needs to happen to monitor the success of Education Savings Accounts, and to ensure every student still receives a quality education?
I am a public school teacher, and my perspective on education policy is shaped by real classroom experience and school leadership. I have worked in schools without basic supplies like paper, in buildings with serious facility challenges, and with students who need additional academic and emotional support but lack access to adequate resources.
These are not abstract policy issues—they are realities in many schools. In San Antonio, more than 25 schools have closed in recent years, including a campus where I worked in the Edgewood district. These closures displaced dedicated educators, separated children from their classmates, and disrupted entire neighborhoods. Even campuses that demonstrated strong academic performance were closed due to ongoing financial constraints.
Most recently, Carvajal Elementary on the Westside is being closed, continuing this harmful pattern. As a bilingual educator serving high-need students, I understand the academic and cultural needs of our community. Public education must be adequately funded, including expanded early childhood programs to give students a strong foundation for success. Education Savings Accounts were passed in the last legislative session and must be managed with transparency and accountability. ESAs serve only a small portion of students, so policy decisions must focus on strengthening the entire education system. Success should be measured by student outcomes, access to resources, and long-term stability. Every family and student deserves support, opportunity, and a quality education.
5. Reducing the burden of property taxes is expected to be a major focus of the next legislative session. Describe your ideas for balancing the needs of a growing state with state leaders’ desire to rein in that major revenue source?
Reducing the property tax burden must be done responsibly while protecting essential services. I support eliminating property taxes for seniors age 62 and over, especially those nearing retirement, so they are not forced out of their homes due to rising costs.
This policy also helps reduce homelessness by keeping people housed and communities stable. Funding can come from existing state revenue sources, better budget priorities, and long-standing proposals that shift more responsibility to the state rather than homeowners.
With rising costs of living, including proposed CPS and energy increases of over 30%, Texans need real relief now. Eliminating property taxes is a practical, compassionate solution that strengthens families, neighborhoods, and the long-term health of our communities.
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Meet the candidates running for the Texas Legislature in 2026
