new A Texas legislative race mired in controversy faces additional backlash after a political advertisement, supported by Donald Trump, mocked veterans for their military disabilities. This advertisement emerged just before Memorial Day weekend.
Amid a tight Republican primary runoff in Texas’ 35th Congressional District, a mailer from the Protect and Serve political action committee targeted Carlos Delacruz, questioning his disability status and labeling him a “‘100% disabled’ kickboxer.” This ad implies that Delacruz, an Air Force veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is “claiming 100% disability to avoid paying property taxes.”
The ad further contends that while the Department of Veterans Affairs considers a veteran with 100% disability to have “severe symptoms causing complete disability,” Delacruz appears fit enough to train at a kickboxing gym and refers to himself as a volunteer carpenter.
Charlotte Niner, an Air Force veteran and Wounded Warrior Project member, expressed her anger, saying, “This is the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever taken out of a mailbox.” She emphasized that it’s shameful to launch such an attack just days before Memorial Day.
Niner accused Luján, a career politician, of exploiting the wounds of fellow veterans, criticizing him for never having worn a uniform. “He has no idea what these injuries cost, and he never will,” she stated. She plans to ensure that fellow veterans in the area know about Luján’s actions, declaring, “I’m proudly voting for Carlos de la Cruz, but John Luján should be ashamed.”
Meanwhile, the Luján campaign has not responded to requests for comment. According to Texas law, veterans labeled as 100% disabled or individually unemployable by the VA can receive a complete exemption from real estate taxes on their homes. The Texas Disabled Veterans Property Tax Advocacy Group cites that over 164,000 veterans in Texas with such ratings benefit from this exemption.
Dela Cruz has previously owned and operated a kickboxing gym in San Antonio.
As for their race, Luján and Dela Cruz are set to compete again on Tuesday, as neither garnered the 50% of votes required for the Republican nomination in their first matchup, where Luján received about 32 percent and Dela Cruz around 27 percent.
Both candidates enjoy substantial endorsements; Dela Cruz is supported by Trump, while Luján counts Texas Governor Greg Abbott among his backers.
This controversy follows similar public outrage in a Democratic primary in the same district, where candidate Maureen Galindo faced backlash for inflammatory comments about “American Zionists.”
