John Lujan
| John I. Lujan | |
 | |
Texas State Representative
for the 188th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office November 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Leo Pacheco |
|---|---|
| In office February 9, 2016 – January 9, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Farias |
| Succeeded by | Tomas Uresti |
| Born | June 7, 1962 San Antonio, Texas |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Freda Lujan (married 1984) |
| Children | Five sons, three of whom are adopted |
| Residence | San Antonio |
| Occupation | Secretary at Sistema Technologies, Inc. Former firefighter |
| Religion | Southern Baptist |
John I. Lujan (born June 7, 1962) is a Republican[1] state representative for his native San Antonio, Texas. He won special elections for the District 118 seat in February 2016 and again on November 2, 2021. He was defeated for election to a full term in November 2016. He reclaimed the seat five years later, when he won a special election to succeed the Democrat Leo Pacheco. His second nonconsecutive`term will expire in January 2023.
Lujan first won election to the House on January 26, 2016, to succeed the Democrat Joe Farias.[2] In the November 2016 general election, Lujan sought a full term but was defeated by the Democrat Tomas Uresti.[3] Lujan's first term hence ended on January 9, 2017.
Lujan sought to return to the legislature in the general election held on November 6, 2018, but was handily defeated by Democrat Leo Pacheco, 23,929 votes (58 percent) to 17,298 (42 percent).[4]
In August 2021, Pacheco announced that he would resign his District 118 seat.[5] Lujan stated that he started receiving calls of encouragement to run again for the legislature from Republican leaders like House Speaker Dade Phelan. On August 17, 2021, Lujan announced his candidacy.[6]
In the special election on November 2, 2021, Lujan defeated the Democrat Frank Ramirez, 51.2 to 48.8 percent. Lujan said he is humbled to win the seat for a second abbreviated term as the only Republican in history to hold this position. The district voted heavily for liberal Democrats Beto O'Rourke and Joe Biden in the 2018 and 2020 elections.[7]
References
- ↑ John Lujan (I), 59 - San Antonio, TX Public Reputation Profile at MyLife.com™, accessed November 3, 2021.
- ↑ Madlin Mekelburg (January 27, 2016). GOP Brags, Democrats Wince as HD 118 Goes Red. Texas Tribune.
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, General election returns, November 8, 2016.
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, General Election Returns, November 6, 2018.
- ↑ San Antonio State Rep. Leo Pacheco to resign from Texas House before second term ends. KABB (Fox in San Antonio) (August 9, 2021). Retrieved on August 22, 2021.
- ↑ Gilbert Garcia (August 21, 2021). Special-election field takes shape for vacant Texas House seat. San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved on August 22, 2021.
- ↑ Republicans flip Texas seat where Beto won by 20 points… – CITIZEN FREE PRESS , accessed November 3, 2021.