Johnny Garcia faces past suspensions for jail phone violations

Johnny Garcia is running for Congress in Texas's newly redrawn 35th District, yet his past with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office holds dark stains. Official records reveal two suspensions marked by "job performance" issues and insubordination that seriously impaired his work effectiveness. These findings emerge from a public records request just as Garcia wages an uphill battle against Republican Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz. The race looks significantly more competitive than before because it will fill the seat vacated by Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas.

The first incident happened in 2009. Garcia brought a cellular device into a secure jail area despite repeated instructions not to do so. A notice of suspension made this clear. "You have been instructed multiple times not to bring cellular phones or electronic equipment into the secured area and that doing so is a violation of policy," the document stated. It noted he had admitted knowing the rules during Roll Call. The department suspended him without pay for three days for insubordination and actions impairing job effectiveness.

Then came the second suspension in 2020. This time, Garcia left a Glock firearm, four magazines, and his badge in his car where they were unsecured. Later, someone stole those items. A report called this negligent behavior that seriously impaired his ability to do the job. "Your equipment was not properly secured and was kept temporarily in your vehicle against Bexar County Sheriff's policy," the text read. It labeled the act a clear violation of office procedures. He received a five-day unpaid suspension for these failures.

The firearm was eventually recovered after Garcia reported it missing, but the damage to his record remained. When asked about additional context or how often such suspensions occur, the Sheriff's Office gave little more than standard boilerplate. Deputy Noel Diaz issued a statement confirming Garcia faced no other discipline beyond these two incidents. "The Bexar County Sheriff's Office handles all policy violations in strict accordance with Civil Service Commission guidelines," Diaz said. She added that disciplinary actions are handled independently on single cases and that all deputies must know the policies.

Garcia has never held elected office, which puts him at a severe disadvantage compared to other Democrats running in Texas's 35th District. Casar once won re-election by a wide margin of 67.4% to 32.6% in his old district back in 2024. But redistricting changes passed last year flipped the script entirely. Republicans engineered maps designed specifically to kick progressive candidates like Casar out of office. Now Casar seeks re-election in the neighboring 37th District instead. Garcia faces much steeper odds now, and the stakes for his community feel higher than ever.

Casar refused to accept silence from Congress. He argued that opponents simply do not want their voices heard, yet he insists the team will keep moving forward regardless of the odds. His campaign manager, Garcia, has pivoted the message toward the center by emphasizing his long history in law enforcement. Garcia joined the Bexar County Sheriff's Office at just 21 years old. He spent years working within the county jail before transitioning into a high-stakes role as a hostage negotiator.

His own website lists border security as a primary goal, placing it right next to affordability and protecting Social Security. Garcia claims he witnessed border weakness directly during his service. He stated clearly that he saw how Biden failed us on the border. The site describes him as an old school Democrat who believes true public safety means more than just tough talk.

Legal battles are also shaping up for Texas Republicans. A Supreme Court ruling handed them a major redistricting win by striking down a lower court block on the state map. Meanwhile, Garcia's campaign addressed two recent suspensions by pointing directly to his record as an officer. They framed these incidents as distractions from larger economic issues like tariffs and foreign conflicts that hurt working families.

Garcia told Fox News Digital that politicians use politicized claims to distract from rising costs. His statement highlighted how safety remains the core of his mission while he spends nearly two decades protecting communities. He faces a crowded field now that he has cleared his party's primary in May. The general election approaches fast on Nov. 3, where voters will decide his future.