Don McLaughlin Jr., former mayor of Uvalde, is leading the race for Texas House District 80 with 63% of the vote and 66% of precincts reporting. McLaughlin, who resigned as mayor in 2023 to run for the state legislature, has focused his campaign on border control, property tax relief, and school choice. This marks a shift in the region from Democratic to Republican.
Don McLaughlin’s win in Texas House District 80 reflects a broader trend of rural, largely Latino districts in South Texas moving toward Republican candidates. The district includes cities like Pleasanton, Uvalde, and parts of Laredo. McLaughlin, in a KSAT interview, said, “This victory belongs to the people of South Texas.” His campaign has received support from prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott.
Opposing McLaughlin was Democrat Cecilia Castellano, who had taken up the banner of public education advocacy, affordable healthcare, and economic development. In the aftermath of the election, McLaughlin has stated his desire to cross partisan divides and genuinely represent the citizens of his district. “I’m looking at a seat to represent the people of District 80. For too long we’ve been getting crumbs off the table,” he emphatically told Texas Public Radio.
During his time as mayor, McLaughlin witnessed the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting, which brought national attention to Uvalde and to his leadership. In response, he continued to advocate for stronger law enforcement and school security measures. Castellano’s campaign faced controversy following a voter fraud investigation, which included a raid on her home by Attorney General Ken Paxton. A federal judge later ruled that the raid was overreaching. In the aftermath, Castellano has called for a federal inquiry into the matter, reflecting ongoing tensions in the state over election integrity. McLaughlin, reflecting on his campaign, said, “We’ve been getting congratulating calls from [Gov. Greg Abbott], from the speaker of the house. So I feel like we’re at a point that the numbers are in our favor,” a sentiment obtained by Texas Public Radio.
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