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Steve Allison*(R)
Celina Montoya(D)
(80 / 80)
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Incumbent Steve Allison up early in House District 121 race
11:20 p.m. — As he did in 2018, Steve Allison has beat Celina Montoya to remain the representative in House District 121.
Democrats were hoping to flip the seat in an effort to win the Texas House, but Allison held the edge as the incumbent.
“While we didn’t get the result we hoped for tonight, I am incredibly proud to say that we just ran the most competitive race for State Representative that House District 121 has ever seen," Montoya said in a statement late Tuesday night.
Montoya congratulated Allison on the victory and said she will work with him to help the community.
9:56 p.m. — With 86% of precincts reporting, Steve Allison is maintaining his lead against Celina Montoya.
Allison, the incumbent, has 53% of the vote.
Barring a significant gain for Montoya, Allison appears poised to keep the state seat in the Republican column.
7:44 p.m. — Incumbent Republican Steve Allison holds the early lead against Democrat Celina Montoya.
Democrats are hoping to flip the seat to gain an edge in the Texas House of Representatives, but so far, Allison leads by fewer than 6,000 votes, according to the Bexar County Elections Department. Allison has garnered 45,049 votes while Montoya has 39,857.
The tally includes nearly 74,000 in-person early votes and more than 11,000 absentee votes. Election Day votes have yet to be counted.
Background
In a crucial rematch of the 2018 midterm elections that Democrats are counting on in November in hopes of flipping the Texas House, incumbent Republican Steve Allison is facing Democrat Celina Montoya in House District 121.
Allison succeeded former Speaker of the House Joe Straus in a district long held by Republicans that covers parts of north central and northeast San Antonio, Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills and Olmos Park.
The Republican defeated Montoya in the 2018 Midterm Election by 8% of the vote.
Texas Democrats have identified this district as one of about a dozen Republican-held seats they are targeting in their effort to take control of the Texas House for the first time since 2003. To do so, Dems need to gain nine seats in 2020. Many of the battleground districts are in the Houston and Dallas suburbs, but San Antonio’s HD 121 could be pivotal.
According to Allison’s campaign website, his priorities include property taxes, public education and job creation.
Allison said that he “is committed to working tirelessly” to come up with solutions for property taxes, which he said his constituents report being the biggest issue Texas faces.
Allison, a business attorney, touts his conservative values, community service and his record in the Texas Legislature when he served on the Public Education and Public Health committees to win reelection.
He ran unopposed in the March 2020 Republican Primary. He has been endorsed by the San Antonio Express-News.
Montoya easily defeated two opponents in the Democratic Primary, capturing 69% of the vote and avoiding a runoff.
According to Montoya’s campaign website, education, health care and gun safety are among her priorities.
An executive of her family-run business, Montoya said that he would push for an expansion of Medicaid and protecting the Affordable Care Act.
Montoya also advocates for public schools to be funded equitably and fully.
She hopes more campaign cash this time around and the political climate tied to the COVID-19 pandemic in the state and the country will help her score an upset.
According to Texas Elections Commission, Montoya outraised Allison by nearly $150,000 between July 1, 2020, and September 24, 2020.
If Montoya wins the election, she would be the first Democrat, the first Latina and the youngest person to represent District 121, according to her campaign website.
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