State lawmaker, local trial attorney confirm they're eyeing Bexar County DA's race

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer speaks during a San Antonio City Council meeting. Credit: Facebook / Trey Martinez Fischer

The race to replace outgoing Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales is heating up.

On Monday, a high-profile state legislator and a prominent trial attorney both said they’re interested in chasing the Democratic nomination for the office.

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, in a statement to the Express-News and other outlets, confirmed he’s weighing a run to replace Joe Gonzales, who in June said he won’t seek a third term.

“I have tremendous respect for our criminal justice system, our Courts, and practitioners, and I understand the role the District Attorney plays in protecting our community from violent offenders and dispensing compassionate justice to those deserving a second chance,” Martinez Fischer said in his statement to the daily.

Martinez Fischer, who’s serving his seventh term in the Texas House, said he’s formed an exploratory committee to guide his decision. The legislator got his law degree from the University of Texas at Austin and continues to operate the TMF law firm in San Antonio.

Meanwhile, San Antonio criminal defense attorney and social media personality Shannon Locke of the Locke Law Group also told the Current on Monday that he’s also exploring a run for the Democratic nomination.

“We cannot afford to pretend that these times call for a business-as-usual politics approach,” Locke told the Current. “Bexar County deserves real criminal justice reform — driven by integrity, experience, and a deep understanding of the people we serve.”

Locke earned his JD from the University of Arizona College of Law and has 20 years of legal experience. His resume includes stints as a prosecutor in Arizona and in Bexar County, the latter through the DA’s White Collar Crime Unit.

Former Assistant Bexar County District Attorney Jason Wolff of the Calfas Law Group, in a TikTok last week, said other Democrats interested in running likely include attorneys Mario Del Prado, Bridget Garza and Luz Elena Chapa. However, none of those potential candidates has publicly announced plans to run.

People familiar with DA’s office also said Wolff’s name has come up as a potential contender. He didn’t respond to the Current’s request for comment, though.

379th Criminal District Court Judge Ron Rangel considered a bid earlier this year. However, in October, he said he won’t be entering the race.

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State lawmaker, local trial attorney confirm they’re eyeing Bexar County DA’s race

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