Carlos De La Cruz

Carlos De La Cruz and his wife, Annette, opened a 9Round kickboxing franchise in San Antonio in 2018 after his military retirement.¹ At the time, she worked as a nurse while helping with operations, and he worked at the gym full time.¹ He has described the business as a place where they also mentored local young people.²

Raised by a single mother in South Texas, De La Cruz says his grandfather's Navy service inspired him to enlist in the Air Force as a teenager.³ His 20 years of service included assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan and at the border with Mexico.⁴ He also served at Lackland Air Force Base.³

Before opening their gym, the couple shadowed another franchise and attended small business workshops.¹ The University of Texas at San Antonio's development center helped with location research, financial projections and a business plan for an SBA loan; its 2019 profile documented growth from four to nine employees.¹ His sister is Representative Monica De La Cruz, and he won the Republican nomination in a May 26 runoff.²

His platform backs Trump's agenda, stronger border enforcement, expanded domestic energy production and more resources for police and veterans.⁵ He promises to defend Social Security and Medicare and vote to ban congressional stock trading.⁵ He faces Democrat Johnny Garcia on November 3 in the redrawn 35th District, where neither candidate is an incumbent.⁶⁷