John Lira

John Lira served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Lira earned an associate degree in paralegal studies from San Antonio College in 2008, a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2012, and a master's degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University in 2015.[1] His career experience includes co-founding LIRA Strategies LLC and working as a HillVets Legislative Leaders Fellow with the U.S. House of Representatives, a policy research manager with the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, and a management and program analyst with the U.S. Small Business Administration.[2]

John Lira did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websiteLira's campaign website stated the following:LOWERING THE COST OF LIVINGFamilies in Texas-35 are being squeezed from every direction. Groceries, rent, gas, utilities, and health care cost more every month while paychecks lag behind. I’m running for Congress to protect the family budget and make sure working people can afford to live with dignity.That means cracking down on corporate price gouging, banning junk fees, fighting unnecessary tariffs that raise food prices, and raising the minimum wage so one job is enough. Congress has a responsibility to lower everyday costs where it has authority and stop policies that pad corporate profits at the expense of families.Affordability is not a slogan. It’s the difference between stability and struggle. I will fight to make sure families in Texas-35 can keep more of what they earn and plan for the future.AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CAREHealth care is a basic human right. No family should face financial ruin because someone gets sick, and no worker should lose coverage because politicians refuse to act. Texas still has the highest uninsured rate in the nation, and too many families delay care because of cost.I support making Affordable Care Act subsidies permanent, closing the Medicaid coverage gap, lowering prescription drug prices, and capping insulin at $35 for everyone. I also support allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, expanding community health clinics, and strengthening mental health care access.We must restore and strengthen Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA while protecting employer-based and union-negotiated plans. Our health care system should put patients and workers first—not insurance companies and drug manufacturers.To live up to that value, we must:    Make Affordable Care Act subsidies permanent.    Close the coverage gap in states like Texas that refused to expand Medicaid.    Invest in community health clinics in underserved neighborhoods and rural communities, including VA clinics.     Expand access to services, especially mental health services.Expanding Affordable Health Care    We must be a country that guarantees affordable, accessible health care for every family, not just those who can afford it.    Texas has the highest uninsured rate in America. In this district, a simple doctor visit can drain a paycheck and leave families vulnerable.BETTER PAY, STRONGER JOBS, AND RETIREMENT SECURITYWork should pay enough to build a life, retire with dignity, and support a family. Right now, too many jobs don’t. Stagnant wages, disappearing pensions, and rising costs have made economic security feel out of reach for working people.I support raising the minimum wage, expanding overtime eligibility, strengthening unions, and investing in apprenticeships and skills training that lead to good-paying jobs. I also believe companies must correctly classify workers and stop exploiting loopholes to avoid paying fair wages and benefits.Retirement security should be a promise, not a gamble. I will protect pensions, strengthen Social Security, oppose privatization, and ensure workers never lose the retirement they earned because of corporate greed or bankruptcy games.For too long, our economy has been rigged to reward the wealthy and well-connected while working families struggle to get ahead. I believe the strength of our economy depends on the strength of our workers, their wages, their rights and their ability to bargain collectively. When we invest in workers, protect labor standards and ensure everyone pays their fair share, we build shared prosperity that lifts entire communities. Congress must rewrite the rules of the economy so work is rewarded with dignity, security, and opportunity.Better Wages, Jobs, and Skills    We must be a country that honors work with fair pay and real opportunity.    Many jobs in Texas - do not pay enough to support a family. Workers deserve wages that reflect today’s cost of living.To live up to that value, we must:    Raise the federal minimum wage.    Expand apprenticeships and technical training.    Invest in infrastructure that creates local jobs.    Protections from AI displacementActions    If we take these actions, families will have higher wages, better job security, and a path to long-term economic mobility.    I support the independent and bipartisan nature of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Federal Reserve, Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and other congressionally designated independent agencies.SUPPORTING PARENTS, CHILDREN, AND THE CARE ECONOMYThe pandemic exposed what working families already knew: our work and family policies are broken. No one should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a child, a parent, or themselves.Paid leave, paid sick days, and affordable child and elder care are not perks; they are basic economic infrastructure that improve public health, workplace productivity, and economic stability. I believe Congress must modernize our policies so every worker can care for their family without fear of losing their job or falling behind financially. I support paid family and sick leave, guaranteed paid sick days, and restoring the expanded Child Tax Credit that cut child poverty nearly in half. A national standard ensures all workers are protected, regardless of where they live or work. I also support lowering child care costs, expanding Pre-K, and ensuring care workers earn fair pay and have the right to organize.Support Parents:    We must be a country that supports parents and children so they can thrive, not just survive.    Parents in Texas-35 are struggling with child care costs that often exceed their rent. That pushes families into debt and keeps people out of the workforce.To live up to that value, we must:    Paid Family and Sick Leave for all    Restore the expanded Child Tax Credit. Cut child poverty by nearly half.     Increase child care subsidies and availability.     Support early childhood educators with fair pay.    Expand Pre-K access for working families.Together:If we take these steps, families will have economic stability, children will have better educational opportunities, and parents will be able to return to work with confidence.SMALL BUSINESS AND OPPORTUNITYSmall businesses are the backbone of our communities. I want to help spark a new generation of entrepreneurship so more people can build wealth, create jobs, and invest in their own neighborhoods.I have seen firsthand how small businesses strengthen local economies and grow the middle class when owners have access to training, capital, and fair markets. Congress should be removing barriers, not creating them, and making sure large corporations do not crowd out local businesses.Expanding opportunity means giving people a fair shot to succeed where they live. I will fight for policies that help small businesses start, grow, and stay rooted in Texas-35.VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIESAs a fellow veteran, I am dedicated to enhancing the lives of our community's heroes. My plans to boost veteran services and ensure affordable housing in San Antonio reflect our shared values.When we send people to serve, we must keep our promises when they come home. Veterans and military families deserve real support, not excuses.Congress must do more to prevent veteran suicide and reduce veteran homelessness by ensuring the VA and partner programs have the staffing, equipment, and mental health resources veterans need. That includes timely access to care, strong transition support, and accountability when the system fails.I know our obligation does not end when the uniform comes off. I will fight to make sure veterans and military families are treated with the dignity, care, and respect they have earned.ENERGY, JOBS, AND GRID RELIABILITYTexas is a major energy producer, and those jobs matter. We need an energy strategy that is reliable, affordable, and forward-looking.I support an all-of-the-above energy approach that strengthens traditional energy jobs while continuing to expand renewable sources like wind and solar. Congress should work with producers to raise safety and environmental standards while encouraging cleaner and more efficient production.We must also invest in modern infrastructure and grid reliability to protect families from rising electricity costs as demand grows. A balanced energy strategy can support good-paying jobs, protect consumers, and ensure responsible stewardship for future generations.TARIFFSTariffs can have a legitimate, limited role in U.S. trade policy when strategically used to protect workers, critical industries, and national security.However, the reckless and unilateral use of tariffs by the current administration has created widespread uncertainty, raised costs for working families, and harmed American manufacturers, farmers, and consumers. Trade policy should not be wielded as a blunt political weapon or without regard for its economic consequences at home and abroad.I believe Congress must reclaim its constitutional role in trade policy by reining in executive tariff authority and requiring transparency, worker input, and congressional approval. When used carefully as part of a broader, worker-centered industrial strategy, tariffs can help strengthen domestic supply chains, but as they are used today, they undermine American jobs and damage global trade relationships.IMMIGRATION REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITYImmigration enforcement must be transparent, lawful, and constitutional. No federal agency should operate in secrecy or intimidate communities without accountability.I support comprehensive immigration reform that reflects our values as a nation founded by immigrants while maintaining public safety and the rule of law. That includes modernizing lawful pathways, improving visa programs so key industries have the workforce they need, and protecting workers who contribute to our economy.I also support strengthening due process in the asylum system by ensuring access to legal representation and timely hearings. Enforcement should focus on human traffickers, drug traffickers, and organized criminal networks, not families and workers seeking opportunity. Immigration policy can be firm, fair, and constitutional at the same time.PROTECTING DEMOCRACY AND THE CONSTITUTIONDemocracy depends on accountability and the rule of law. Congress is not meant to be a bystander. It has a constitutional duty to check abuses of power, reduce the influence of money in politics, and ensure government answers to the people.The Constitution establishes Congress as a co-equal branch with a responsibility to conduct oversight, enforce the law, and defend its authority. That means using hearings, subpoenas, appropriations, and legislation to hold the executive branch accountable and ensure no president and no court is above the Constitution.Restoring trust also means reducing the influence of big money in politics by strengthening campaign finance laws, increasing transparency, and addressing the damage caused by Citizens United. As a veteran and public servant, I swore an oath to the Constitution, not a party or a personality. If elected, I will use the powers of Congress to defend democracy and make sure government works for the people.— John Lira's campaign website (February 17, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Mexican American who has proudly served our country not only overseas in combat as a U.S. Marine but also in the frontlines of national policy in the federal government. I used the G.I. Bill to overcome transition, sharpen my skills as an intelligence analyst, and to become a student of political science. My desire to continue serving our country led me to lead national veterans programs at AmeriCorps and the U.S Small Business Administration and to help draft national legislation on a federal commission and on Capitol Hill. I am running for U.S. Congress in the spirit of continued service and because Texas 23rd congressional district is one of the most diverse and important districts in the country and faces some of the most unique challenges in our nation. I am running to be a partner and a problem-solver; not a partisan politician.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

John is the passion, skills, experience, and dedication have prepared him to serve at the forefront of the policies that matter most to the people of Texas 23rd.John values partnerships and working with all constituents, regardless of political affiliation, to address the various unique needs of the district.John's policy priorities include long-term, bipartisan, and humane border solutions, expansion of rural medical services, investments in small businesses and entrepreneurs, and bringing infrastructure projects to Texas 23.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

John's policy priorities include long-term, bipartisan, and humane border solutions, expansion of rural medical services, investments in small businesses and entrepreneurs, and bringing infrastructure projects to Texas 23. John is passionate about helping expand and improve services for veterans including the creation of a burn-pit registry. He is also a subject matter expert in National Service policy and will be a champion for ensuring more opportunities to serve in the community are available.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

When my great uncle perished in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. This was the first time I learned about what public service was and the sacrifice it sometimes requires. I was 11 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a bus boy on at Las Canarias restaurant inside La Mansion Hotel on the San Antonio Riverwalk. I worked there for one year.