Cortez is an Air Force veteran who served 20 years and retired as a Captain, and holds a Ph.D. in educational administration from UT Austin.
He is running for a sixth term representing Southside and West Bexar County, after first winning the seat in 2012.
Cortez’s take on Texas values
In November 2023, Cortez joined other Bexar County Democrats in voting to strip a private-school voucher program out of a school funding bill, siding with public schools over sending taxpayer money to private and religious schools. [campaign website; Ballotpedia]