Texas state House candidate Jorge Borrego issued a formal apology Wednesday for past social media posts that included racial slurs and lewd remarks, walking back his earlier dismissive response. In a statement, Borrego described the posts as “crude and immature jokes” and insisted they do not reflect his current views.
“In no ways do those past posts represent my current sentiments and feelings,” Borrego wrote. He attributed the posts to his upbringing, saying he grew up “in an environment where drug and alcohol abuse were common” and used “dark humor to cope with trauma I did not yet know how to process.”
Borrego’s campaign website highlights his difficult childhood, noting that “when his father was incarcerated, his family faced eviction, uncertainty, and the kind of hardship too many families carry quietly.”
The offending posts, written between 2011 and 2013 on Twitter—now X—included racial slurs, derogatory language about women, and references to human trafficking. Borrego initially shrugged off the reports, posting Monday: “I’m 30… so yeah I was teenager…” and “I was 16 lol.”
Borrego is the Republican nominee for Texas House District 118, facing Democrat Kristian Carranza in the November 3 general election. The seat is currently held by Republican John Lujan, who lost his bid for the state’s 35th Congressional District. Carranza narrowly lost to Lujan in 2024 by 3 points.
In a statement Wednesday, Carranza called Borrego’s posts “vulgar” and said he is “unfit and unable to serve in a position of trust.” She went further, alleging: “Jorge bragged about trafficking women, repeatedly and publicly solicited nude photographs, and has sent more than 150 lewd, racist, and perverse tweets.”
The race has drawn attention as a potential pickup for Democrats, who have not held the seat since 2020. Recent polling in Texas battleground districts shows Democrats leading in several key House races, adding to the stakes.
Borrego’s apology comes amid a broader national debate about candidate conduct and online behavior. The controversy also echoes other recent incidents where candidates have faced scrutiny for past posts, such as the Maine GOP nominee’s proposal to have ICE and Marshals at polling places.
District 118 covers part of Bexar County, including San Antonio’s South Side. The race is seen as competitive, and Borrego’s apology may not fully quell concerns among voters. Carranza’s campaign has seized on the posts to question Borrego’s character, while Borrego insists he has grown since his teenage years.
