How Zack Dunn flipped a historically Republican San Antonio district

For the first time since 1981, Texas House District 121 will be represented by a Democrat.

Zack Dunn defeated Republican incumbent Marc LaHood, flipping the North Side district after decades of GOP representation.

Dunn said public education and affordability were among the biggest issues he heard from voters while campaigning across the district.

“All of it starts back home and it starts with our public schools,” Dunn said.

The district’s political history includes former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus and former state Rep. Steve Allison.

Straus represented District 121 from 2005 to 2019. Allison succeeded him and was against the voucher program.

Allison lost his Republican primary in 2024 after Gov. Greg Abbott backed LaHood’s challenge. LaHood subsequently represented the district before Dunn defeated him in 2026.

Dunn said concerns about public education, including potential school closures in Northeast Independent School District, contributed to voters wanting new leadership.

Dunn’s connection to the district dates back to his time at Reagan High School. He later attended law school and returned to San Antonio, where he worked as a prosecutor with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.

He said running for the Texas House was an extension of his public service.

“Now you get the opportunity to serve the whole district,” Dunn said.

Dunn said his legislative priorities include repealing the school voucher program, expanding Medicaid and increasing mental health funding for veterans in San Antonio and District 121.

He also wants to examine changes to the Texas Penal Code that could allow forensic interviews of children to be admissible in court.

Dunn said he campaigned without a large operation or elaborate headquarters, focusing instead on conversations with voters.

“We asked for your vote when we talked about these things,” Dunn said. “This campaign was no frills, this is exactly what we talked about. Let’s see what we can do.”

Dunn will get sworn into office on Jan. 12, 2027, when the Texas Legislative Session begins.

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