John Lujan, a Republican, Narrowly Flipped a State House Seat in San Antonio

Elections|A Republican narrowly flipped a State House spot successful San Antonio.

• Nov. 3, 2021, 7:27 a.m. ET

SAN ANTONIO — A Democratic stronghold successful San Antonio flipped to a Republican successful a runoff connected Tuesday, further eroding a Latino electorate that until precocious favored Democrats.

John Lujan, a 59-year-old retired firefighter who had concisely held the State House spot before, bushed Frank Ramirez, a 27-year-old erstwhile legislative aide, by less than 300 votes, according to a tally released by the Bexar County Elections Department.

Mr. Ramirez conceded precocious Tuesday successful a stroke for Democrats successful San Antonio, a bulk Latino metropolis 150 miles northbound of the Mexican borderline that is known for its heavy Mexican American roots. About 70 percent of the mostly working-class families successful the 118th District place arsenic Hispanic.

To cheers from his supporters astatine PicaPica Plaza, Mr. Lujan said the effect showed that his level of nationalist safety, borderline information and occupation instauration was appealing to Latinos.

“This speaks loudly that radical are acrophobic astir blimpish values,” helium said. “You know, we privation to unafraid our border, we privation to turn our economy.”

After nary of the 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans who ran successful the peculiar predetermination successful September received a bulk of votes, Mr. Lujan delivered a spot captious to the Republican Party’s efforts to marque inroads successful South Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott and Dade Phelan, the talker of the House, some called to congratulate him connected Tuesday night.

Mr. Ramirez, who has served arsenic a main of unit successful the territory and arsenic a zoning and readying manager for a San Antonio councilwoman, ran connected a run to summation investments successful nationalist education, fixing aging infrastructure and offering spot taxation relief. But successful the extremity it was not enough.

“The resilience of the South Side can’t beryllium underestimated,” helium said aft conceding the race. “We’ll beryllium back.”