Staff Reports
A small change on a campaign website just turned into a big political question. Democratic nominee Johnny Garcia removed the visible “Endorsements” link from his campaign homepage, even though the endorsements page still exists and can be reached if someone types the address directly. In a tight Texas 35th District race, that move looks less like a tech glitch and more like damage control.
The sleight of hand: endorsements live but hidden
Archived captures show the endorsements link was on the homepage as recently as early August. Now it’s gone from the navigation bar, but the endorsements page itself remains online. Voters can still read the list if they know where to look. That list contains big names like Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Representatives Greg Casar, Joaquin Castro, and Lloyd Doggett, former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, and former state senator Wendy Davis. So the backing hasn’t vanished — the campaign just removed the obvious signpost pointing voters to it.
A conspicuous omission: James Talarico is missing
What is missing from the visible list is the endorsement from Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico. Talarico publicly backed Garcia during the runoff months ago, yet his name does not appear on the campaign’s endorsement page. That raises a simple question: did Garcia’s team edit the page to remove certain names, or did they quietly tuck the whole endorsements tab out of sight to limit voters’ scrutiny? As of now, the campaign has offered no public explanation.
Why this matters in TX-35
Texas’s 35th District is a competitive, closely watched race. Republican nominee Carlos De La Cruz proudly touts a President Donald Trump endorsement, and the district was redrawn in ways that make every vote count. In a contest this tight, endorsements and how campaigns present them can sway undecided voters. Republicans are already using the move to accuse Garcia of hiding his allies — calling attention to his “far-left” backers and suggesting the campaign knows some endorsements won’t play well with voters here.
No answers, only guesses — voters should demand better
At the end of the day, voters deserve straight answers. If the endorsements link was removed to clean up outdated content, say so. If it was hidden because some backers are political liabilities in South Texas, own it and explain the strategy. Silence breeds suspicion, and in a race this close, suspicion can move votes. Johnny Garcia’s campaign should stop playing hide-and-seek and let South Texans see exactly who is standing behind him.
