Travis County DA José Garza projected to be re-elected

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Incumbent Democrat José Garza is projected to be re-elected as Travis County district attorney.

Garza told KXAN's Avery Travis moments after his race was called that, "We're really grateful that this evening our community has decisively reaffirmed their belief that we should have a criminal justice system that treats everyone fairly regardless of age, race, income and reaffirmed their confidence that we're delivering just that."

He also said, in the next four years, his office will continue to try to reduce violence in the community and treat sexual assault survivors with respect.

Garza campaigned on some of the same progressive reforms to the criminal justice system that won him the office in 2020, including programs focused on diversion and prevention. He said the show of support at the polls confirmed that Travis County voters want these efforts to continue.

Over the last four years, Garza faced criticism, at times, from people who felt his office was not tough enough on crime. Plus, he is still fighting an effort to remove him from office. A petition filed earlier this year sought to utilize a new state law that allows for the removal of elected prosecutors for "official misconduct" or refusing to prosecute certain criminal offenses.

Republican Daniel Betts took on Garza in the November election. He told KXAN, if elected, he hoped to restore relationships with victims of violent crime, as well as with local law enforcement. He also wanted to increase the number of cases the office tried before Travis County juries.

"It's not about me; it's about following the laws -- simply. It's not about what I'd like the laws to be. It's not about what I think the punishments should be. That's why I want to remove politics from the conversation," Betts said, ahead of polls closing. "Even if we don't win, I intend to show Travis voters how close we can get, and that Mr. Garza cannot have a mandate going into his next term, so that other candidates will feel comfortable coming forward."

Garza defeated Democratic challenger Jeremy Sylestine during a contentious primary election in March with nearly 67% of the vote.