A 20-year Air Force veteran who once ran a kickboxing gym — and whose sister already serves in Congress.
De La Cruz joined the Air Force at 18 and served 20 years — including tours overseas after 9/11 and missions stopping drugs at the border — before opening a kickboxing gym in San Antonio. Backed by Donald Trump, he beat a sitting state lawmaker to become the Republican pick. His sister, Monica De La Cruz, already represents a nearby Texas district in Congress.
Cruz’s take on Texas values
Running as Trump's self-described "wingman" in a district reshaped by the Republican redraw, De La Cruz sits opposite these concerns about gerrymandering and voting access.