Union activist and San Antonio ISD teacher Adrian Reyna won Tuesday’s Democratic runoff for Texas House District 125, blowing away former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela.
With 100% of the districts reporting on Wednesday morning, Reyna won 80% of the vote.
Reyna ran on a platform of working class issues, including housing, healthcare and food and gas affordability. Those priorities earned the recommendation of state and local progressive groups, including San Antonio Democratic Socialists of America, Texas AFL-CIO and San Antonio Alliance Local 67, the teachers union for which Reyna serves as executive vice president.
“As a union leader, Adrian will be a champion for all workers in the Texas House,” Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar said in a statement. “Our rank-and-file union members running for office are charting a new path for Texas — one where our elected officials are ready to fight alongside workers because they’re workers themselves. Adrian is ready to fight to raise wages, lower health care costs, and fully fund our public schools, and we can’t wait to see him in the Texas Capitol.”
In contrast, Vela’s candidacy served to resurfaced old controversies as she ran on her law-enforcement background.
In 2020, Vela was arrested and charged with aggravated perjury, tampering with evidence and official oppression. A jury later convicted her on two felony tampering charges before the Eighth Court of Appeals overturned the convictions in 2024 and rendered a judgment of acquittal.
Though Vela characterized the ruling as “full exoneration,” her past seemed to follow her to the ballot box.
Reyna will face Republican nominee Ricardo “Rick” Martinez, a business owner, in November. Whoever wins November’s general election will succeed Democratic state Rep. Ray Lopez, who decided not to seek reelection.
Texas House District 125 includes parts of West and Northwest San Antonio, extending through Leon Valley to the Government Canyon State Natural Area.
Sign Up for SA Current newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
