5 things to know about Mauro Garza, the nightclub owner running against Joaquin Castro
A woman described as a political consultant to Mauro Garza, the Republican challenger to U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro in District 20, was purportedly shown in a heavily edited video interfering as an elderly woman fills out her absentee ballot in Texas.
The group responsible for the video, released Tuesday, was Project Veritas. The conservative activist group specializes in often deceptive “stings” intended to expose supposed liberal bias and corruption, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office is reviewing the incident.
There is no evidence to suggest Garza knew about the video or that he has taken part in voter fraud. He said the woman in no longer a part of his campaign.
This is not the first time Garza, a local businessman, has run for congress and stirred controversy over his support for President Donald Trump.
Here are 5 things to know about him.
1. He’s a business owner.
Garza owns the popular gay nightclub Pegasus just north of downtown. The bar opened in 1994.
2. His politics have not always been well received by some in the LGBTQ community.
On his Facebook page, Garza has posted photos of himself next to Trump signs and shared articles and videos that criticize the Black Lives Matter movement and Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Some members of the LGBTQ community launched a boycott against his nightclub in 2019. A Twitter account named Protest the Peg asked patrons and performers to shun the hotspot. The organization hosted several protests in front of Pegasus.
LGTBQ rights are not among the key issues listed on his campaign website.
3. He has also been honored for his work with LGBTQ organizations.
In 2009, the local chapter of the Human Rights Campaign honored Garza with a Community Service Award, for contributing more than $100,000 to local LGBTQ organizations, OutinSA reported. However, the Human Rights Campaign has endorsed Castro in the 2020 race, according to its website.
4. He ran for congress in 2018.
In 2018, he challenged U.S. Rep. Chip Roy for the republican nomination in District 21. Garza lost in the primary and Roy would go on to win in November. This year, Garza beat fellow Republican Mike Allen in the primary runoff to take on Castro, but this time in District 20.
5. He is a Texas native.
Garza was born in Corpus Christi and earned a master’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1992, according to his website. Garza’s career experience includes working with the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. He also worked as a teacher with the Alamo Colleges District.
Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @CillaAguirre
