Changes

While on the commissioners court as the lone Republican member, Larson worked to lower [[property tax]] rates seven times during his twelve years in office. In 2005, he pushed the court to freeze property taxes for senior citizens and the disabled. He opposed pay raises for commissioners and refused to accept increases when approved. Larson worked to reduce the impact of the 2005 round of military base closings in San Antonio, which gained a reported eleven thousand jobs despite the loss of one thousand positions on the bases. Larson previously served on the San Antonio - Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Alamo Area Council of Governments, and the Greater San Antonio Crime Commission.<ref name=larsonbio/>

While on the commissioners court as the lone Republican member, Larson worked to lower [[property tax]] rates seven times during his twelve years in office. In 2005, he pushed the court to freeze property taxes for senior citizens and the disabled. He opposed pay raises for commissioners and refused to accept increases when approved. Larson worked to reduce the impact of the 2005 round of military base closings in San Antonio, which gained a reported eleven thousand jobs despite the loss of one thousand positions on the bases. Larson previously served on the San Antonio - Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Alamo Area Council of Governments, and the Greater San Antonio Crime Commission.<ref name=larsonbio/>

In 2008, Larson ran unsuccessfully for Texas' 23rd congressional district seat once held by the Republican Henry Bonilla of San Antonio. In the Republican [[primary]], Larson defeated [[attorney]] and banker [[Francisco Canseco]], formerly of [[Laredo]]. Larson then lost in the [[general election]] to incumbent [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Ciro Rodriguez]] of San Antonio  in the [[Hispanic]]-majority district. The vote was 55.8 percent for Rodriguez and 41.9 percent for Larson, with the remaining ballots held by a [[Libertarian Party]] candidate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist127_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date-November 7, 2006|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref>> In 2010, Rodriguez was unseated by Canseco, who won the Republican nomination that year, but Canseco served only for one term, having been defeated in 2012 by another Democrat, Pete Gallego, a state legislator from Alpine in Brewster County.<ref name=electionreturns>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist164_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2012|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> Gallego lost the seat in 2014 to the [[African-American]] [[Moderate Republican]] Will Hurd, who faces an intra-party challenge on March 6 from the conservative [[Alma Arredondo-Lynch]], a [[dentist]] from Uvalde County.

In 2008, Larson ran unsuccessfully for Texas' 23rd congressional district seat once held by the Republican Henry Bonilla of San Antonio. In the Republican [[primary]], Larson defeated [[attorney]] and banker [[Francisco Canseco]], formerly of [[Laredo]]. Larson then lost in the [[general election]] to incumbent [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Ciro Rodriguez]] of San Antonio  in the [[Hispanic]]-majority district. The vote was 55.8 percent for Rodriguez and 41.9 percent for Larson, with the remaining ballots held by a [[Libertarian Party]] candidate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist127_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=November 7, 2006|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> In 2010, Rodriguez was unseated by Canseco, who won the Republican nomination that year, but Canseco served only for one term, having been defeated in 2012 by another Democrat, Pete Gallego, a state legislator from Alpine in Brewster County.<ref name=electionreturns>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist164_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2012|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> Gallego lost the seat in 2014 to the [[African-American]] [[Moderate Republican]] Will Hurd, who faces an intra-party challenge on March 6 from the conservative [[Alma Arredondo-Lynch]], a [[dentist]] from Uvalde County.

   

   

In 2010, Larson was elected state representative; he polled 56,702 votes (77.4 percent) to 16,576 (22.6 percent) for the Democrat Masarrat Ali.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist154_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=November 2, 2010|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> Larson's total of nearly 57,000 votes was the greatest number of ballots polled by any candidate for state representative in the entire state of Texas that year.<ref name=larsonbio/> The runner-up, Republican Rob Eissler in District 15, received 52,550 votes.<ref name=electionreturns/>

In 2010, Larson was elected state representative; he polled 56,702 votes (77.4 percent) to 16,576 (22.6 percent) for the Democrat Masarrat Ali.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist154_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=November 2, 2010|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> Larson's total of nearly 57,000 votes was the greatest number of ballots polled by any candidate for state representative in the entire state of Texas that year.<ref name=larsonbio/> The runner-up, Republican Rob Eissler in District 15, received 52,550 votes.<ref name=electionreturns/>

After his re-nomination, Larson called upon Abbott to "make amends" with Republican members of the state House whom the governor has offended. "Somewhere, a bunch of humility needs to fall ... He has a few admirers in the House, but the lion's share of the people are not impressed with his leadership style," Larson said.<ref>Peggy Fikac, "Abbott is urged to soothe hard feelings", ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 19, 2018, pp. 1, A2.</ref>

After his re-nomination, Larson called upon Abbott to "make amends" with Republican members of the state House whom the governor has offended. "Somewhere, a bunch of humility needs to fall ... He has a few admirers in the House, but the lion's share of the people are not impressed with his leadership style," Larson said.<ref>Peggy Fikac, "Abbott is urged to soothe hard feelings", ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 19, 2018, pp. 1, A2.</ref>

Despite his squabbles with Governor Abbott, Larson emerged from the November 6, 2018, general electon with 58,062 votes (62 percent) to 35,577 ballots (38 percent) for his Democratic opponent, Claire Barnett.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=November 10, 2018}}</ref>

Despite his squabbles with Governor Abbott, Larson emerged from the November 6, 2018, general election with 58,062 votes (62 percent) to 35,577 ballots (38 percent) for his Democratic opponent, Claire Barnett.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=November 10, 2018}}</ref>