San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced Wednesday his endorsement of Gina Ortiz Jones, a congressional Democrat running to replace retiring Republican Rep. Will Hurd.
“Gina Ortiz Jones experienced first-hand what it’s like to have a community that invests in working people,” Nirenberg said in a prepared statement. “It’s what allowed her to grow up healthy, get an education, and serve our country honorably in the Air Force and in Iraq. I’m proud to endorse Gina, because she is rooted in our community, and she will be a champion that our city and working families deserve in Congress.”
Jones is running for Congress in Texas’ 23rd District, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso. She is facing off against Republican Navy veteran Tony Gonzalez.
Both candidates recently faced off in a televised debate, clashing mainly over healthcare.
All signs point to a competitive race in the swing district.
Jones’ campaign reported raising $1.7 million in the latest fundraising quarter, more than the roughly $1 million reported by Gonzales’ campaign. Recent polling shows Jones leading by one or two percentage points.
Photos: Ole Jensen/Getty Images / Jay Godwin/ Wikimedia Commons
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com
