Democrat Kristian Carranza, who raised big money but lost narrowly to state Rep. John Lujan (R-San Antonio) in 2024, will run again in 2026.

Carranza announced her plans on Wednesday and held a campaign launch party on the South Side with the City Council’s progressives at Aquaduck Beer Garden.

Hours after her press release went out, Lujan also announced reelection plans — amid speculation that he might instead run for the Texas Senate.

Kristian Carranza announces her campaign for Texas House District 118 at The Aquaduck Beer Garden on June 11. Credit: Vincent Reyna for the San Antonio Report

In gerrymandered Texas, House District 118 is one of just a few competitive state legislative seats, drawing millions of dollars in campaign spending in 2024.

Lujan won 51.8% of the vote to Carranza’s 48.2% in an altogether good year for Republicans last year.

Now headed into the first midterm of President Donald Trump’s administration — typically a good year for the party out of power — Carranza told supporters Wednesday she’s ready to finish the job.

“It’s the most competitive district that we have in Texas, and we came within inches of flipping [it],” Carranza said. “We know that we can do it. It just takes a lot of work.”

Republican incumbent John Lujan hugs his parents at his election night watch party as early voting totals in Bexar County show him ahead of opponent Democrat Kristian Carranza.
House Rep. John Lujan hugs his mom Yoalnda Lujan and dad John Lujan Jr. at Mission Open Air Market on election night in November, when he won reelection in Texas House District 118. Credit: Brenda Bazán / San Antonio Report

Carranza said her campaign knocked on 100,000 doors in that race. She also received $1.2 million from a national PAC aligned with gun safety activist David Hogg, helping her keep pace with national conservatives, tort reform groups and business PACs pouring in resources for Lujan.

“We raised more money than any other first time state rep candidate in Texas — ever,” she said Wednesday. “But this is never been about just one election. This is about fighting for our future, because if we don’t do it, then no one else will.”

In a sign of Democratic enthusiasm, she was joined Wednesday by roughly 100 supporters, including civil rights leader Rosie Castro, former Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda (D6), Councilmen Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) and Edward Mungia (D4).

Andrea Drusch writes about local government for the San Antonio Report. She's covered politics in Washington, D.C., and Texas for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, National Journal and Politico.