A local candidate forum between Texas State Rep. John Lujan and Carlos De La Cruz was canceled after reporting raised questions about Lujan’s decision to employ a far-left operative, prompting organizers to withdraw the event amid concerns about transparency and partisan ties.
A scheduled debate for the runoff in Texas’ 35th District will not take place after controversy around campaign staffing made the forum untenable. Organizers pulled the plug once questions surfaced about the political background of Lujan’s chief strategist and the campaign’s communication choices.
Sources say the forum had been planned ahead of the May 26 runoff and was meant to give voters a side-by-side look at both candidates. The cancellation came after reports that Lujan denied to a Texas GOP official that his strategist was an active Democrat, a denial that conflicted with public records and fundraising activity.
Voting records show the strategist, Leticia Cantu, participated in Democratic primaries through 2024, a fact that raised eyebrows among local Republicans and forum organizers. Additional reporting tied Cantu to high-profile progressive circles in San Antonio, including advisory roles connected to the Castro brothers.
Campaign finance records reveal Cantu had contributed a total of $7,000 to Democrat Congressman Henry Cuellar across two checks less than a year ago, which added to the concern about where her loyalties lie. A public profile also lists her employment in Cuellar’s office with the title “Special Projects Coordinator” from July 2022 to April 2023, a detail that reinforced organizers’ unease.
After the reporting surfaced, organizers trying to coordinate the public event found Cantu unresponsive and campaign contacts went silent at a crucial moment. That radio silence, combined with the verifiable Democratic ties, led the hosting group to conclude the debate could not proceed without creating a distraction.
Organizers privately worried that Cantu’s history of working with San Antonio progressives would divert attention away from the candidates’ policy differences and toward questions about the campaign’s staffing choices. In a competitive runoff environment, they judged those distractions would do more harm than good to an informative forum.
Despite the scrutiny, the campaign has continued to list Cantu in a senior role, with officials indicating she still serves as a primary point of contact and helps organize Lujan’s public appearances. That continuity inside the campaign frustrates local Republicans who expect clearer alignment between staff and party commitment.
The controversy has resonance beyond one canceled forum because it touches on broader questions voters often raise about trust and transparency in campaigns. When campaign staffing choices contradict public statements, voters and local groups push back, and that pressure can alter how candidates are covered and engaged by civic organizations.
With early voting for the runoffs opening May 18, the timing of the dispute matters for both campaigns and for voters trying to evaluate their options. The canceled event leaves a narrower window for side-by-side public comparison in a district where turnout and clarity about candidates’ teams can shape the final outcome.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
