Both of the candidates running in the March 5, 2024, Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 118 — Kristian Carranza (D) and Carlos Quezada (D) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Here are the candidates’ responses to the question: Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Carranza:
“My story starts with my mom, whose family’s name I proudly carry. Because where some see struggle, I see grit, sacrifice, and a never-give-up attitude. A single parent, without a college degree, she faced every challenge with courage to give her kids a better life.
Making it work meant occasionally relying on the support of family, changing schools to follow jobs, and a lot of hustle to pay the bills, month after month. Working hourly wage jobs also meant living without health insurance, both a mother’s sacrifice and an injustice no family should have to face.
I’ve been working since I was 16, taking jobs at Bill Miller’s, retail at the mall, to administrative jobs on campus. In my senior year at A&M Corpus Christi my mom wasn’t able to keep her job. So I moved back home, got a new job to pay the bills, and helped her navigate the health care we could afford.
When mom was back on her feet, I went back to school, this time with a clearer sense of purpose. I started in jobs as a community organizer, worked on campaigns across the country, and managed staff and million-dollar budgets, making it all the way to Washington, D.C., and the White House.
I’m running for State Representative for all the families who know the meaning of grit and sacrifice but are losing faith that our political system is serious about anything more than lip service. And our current incumbent is your stereotypical politician. Given a seat at the table, he chooses to stand on the sidelines.”
Quezada:
“Born and raised in the heart of Bexar County’s Southside, Carlos is a proud graduate of Harlandale High School. Carlos began his career protecting the integrity of the American Jury System as an assistant Jury Room Bailiff for Bexar County. Carlos worked full time while he studied Political Science at Palo Alto College where he served as Secretary of Student Affairs for the Student Government.
After receiving his Associates degree in 2002, Carlos continued his undergraduate education at St Mary’s University where he graduated in 2004 with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. While attending St. Mary’s University, Carlos was a member of the pre-law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta.
In 2008, Carlos received his Juris Doctor degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law where he served in the Hispanic Law School Association a Bar Association.
Carlos’ legal experience includes serving as a State Prosecutor and a Bexar County Special Prosecutor where he fought for justice to be fairly dispensed. After working as Assistant District Attorney in Webb County, Carlos began practicing as a private attorney and served as a member on the Harlandale ISD School Board.
Carlos recently served his community as a former Juvenile District Court Judge for the 289th Judicial District in Bexar County.
Carlos is married to Megan Quezada, a public school teacher and has a daughter named Sophia.”
Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
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