San Antonio, Texas: Luz Elena Chapa Elected Bexar County District Attorney, the First Latina to Hold the Office

Luz Elena Chapa will become the first Latina district attorney in Bexar County, after voters in San Antonio and across the county elected the former appeals court judge on Tuesday to lead an office she says needs rebuilding.

Chapa, a Democrat and a former Fourth Court of Appeals judge, prevailed with 62 percent of the vote, Focus on San Antonio reported, over Republican Ashley Foster, a former assistant district attorney, and independent Jason Wolff, a criminal defense attorney. KSAT reported the same 62 percent share as returns came in on election night. She succeeds District Attorney Joe Gonzales, who decided not to seek another term. Chapa won the Democratic nomination in a close May 26 primary runoff over Jane Davis, with 50.8 percent of the vote.

The office she inherits

The next district attorney takes over an office with a backlog of criminal cases, staffing shortages and questions about how prosecutors handle domestic violence allegations, KSAT reported during the campaign. Chapa acknowledged the expectations that come with leading an office facing questions about its performance and calls for change.

"I think about the generations who came before me, who fought for this moment, who paved the way, and I'm embracing it with every inch of my being," Chapa said. She said her election represents generations of people who helped pave the way, but that her focus goes beyond the milestone to the work ahead.

What she says comes first

Chapa said she wants the community to hold her accountable and pledged to operate transparently. She plans to maintain an open door policy and hopes to establish town halls to better understand community needs.

She said rebuilding the office starts with its employees, stressing the importance of retaining prosecutors who believe in the mission and making sure staff members feel valued. Rebuilding trust, she said, will require collaboration with local law enforcement while ensuring everyone is held accountable. "Of course, everyone will be held accountable, but I think that justice will be swift and fair," Chapa said. "And I think people are going to see a noticeable difference almost immediately."

A pledged smooth handover

Outgoing District Attorney Joe Gonzales congratulated Chapa in a statement released after the election. "First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who participated in this year's election," Gonzales said. "This was an incredibly important election with significant outcomes for our community, both at the local and national level. I am truly inspired by the remarkable voter turnout and grateful to see so many residents exercising their civic duty and supporting the candidate of their choice."

"Congratulations to Luz Elena Chapa and her team on running a well run and successful campaign for District Attorney," he said. Gonzales said his highest priority is to leave the district attorney's office in the best possible condition, and that he is committed to supporting a smooth and seamless transition. Public safety will always remain of utmost importance to him, he said, and he is dedicated to assisting, before and after his departure, in any way that will help ensure Chapa and her team are prepared for success from day one.