TGC Democrats Field Two Candidates in Local Elections, Facing Uphill Battle in GOP Stronghold

SAN ANGELO, TX – Tom Green County, a Republican stronghold in West Texas, will see two Democrats challenging for local offices in the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. In a county where all elected officials have been Republican for years, the local Democratic Party has struggled to gain traction, fielding only two candidates for County Commissioner positions while leaving over a dozen other races uncontested.

The Candidates: Cardenas and Dela Cruz

Danny Cardenas, a former San Angelo City Councilman and past member of the San Angelo Independent School District (SAISD) Board of Trustees, will run for the Precinct 1 County Commissioner seat. Cardenas, who hasn't held public office in over a decade, is no stranger to this race. He previously ran against incumbent Republican Ralph Hoelscher but was defeated. Hoelscher remains a well-established figure in the county, which could make this rematch another challenging contest for Cardenas.

In Precinct 3, Mercedes Dela Cruz, a newcomer to local politics, is running against two-term incumbent Republican County Commissioner Rick Bacon. Dela Cruz has no prior experience in public office, and her bid will be an uphill battle given Bacon’s strong local reputation and solid electoral history.

Uncontested GOP Dominance

While the Democrats have fielded these two candidates, they failed to contest more than a dozen other local races, including critical positions such as District Judges, Sheriff, Constables, and County Tax Assessor. Republican dominance in Tom Green County has been consistently overwhelming, leaving Democrats with few victories to point to in recent memory.

In the last four election cycles, Republicans have secured victory with comfortable margins across the board. In 2020, Donald Trump won Tom Green County with 76.5% of the vote, and similar patterns held in state and local races. In 2022, Governor Greg Abbott secured over 75% of the vote in the county, and down-ballot Republican candidates saw similar success.

Democratic Hopes Tied to National Races

Despite the odds, Cardenas and Dela Cruz are looking to generate momentum by aligning themselves with the broader Democratic ticket. County Democrats are hoping that high-profile national races, including Kamala Harris' run for the presidency and Colin Allred's Senate campaign against incumbent Ted Cruz, will galvanize typically inactive voters. In a county where voter turnout is often low among registered Democrats, the local party will need to mobilize thousands of voters who typically stay home on election day to have any chance of success.

The Challenge Ahead

The task is daunting. Cardenas and Dela Cruz must overcome not only well-entrenched Republican incumbents but also a deeply ingrained political culture that favors the GOP. Without the resources to field candidates in all races, the Tom Green County Democratic Party's hopes are pinned on these two contests, with the understanding that local dynamics will likely remain firmly in Republican hands.

As November approaches, these two Democratic candidates will need to focus on energizing a base that has been largely disengaged in recent elections. Even with a strong national Democratic ticket, turning Tom Green County blue, or even flipping a single seat, remains a monumental task.