A Republican candidate vying for a seat in the Texas House is facing scrutiny after the resurfacing of decade-old social media posts containing homophobic slurs and racist remarks. Jorge Borrego, the GOP nominee in a highly contested district in San Antonio, has stated that he now regards those comments as crude and immature.
The controversy began when the conservative media outlet Current Revolt highlighted nine of Borrego’s tweets from 2013, which included references to cocaine use and other vulgar language. In one notable post, Borrego wrote, “@MikeeKillsz is gay as f***,” followed by a derogatory term for a Black person.
Initially, Borrego downplayed the issue, asserting that he was just a teenager at the time. Responding to the backlash, he remarked, “I was 16 lol,” adding that MikeeKillsz is his cousin and concluding with a laughing emoji.
Subsequent reviews by The Texas Tribune uncovered additional tweets from Borrego that were not previously reported, where he discussed selling cocaine, attributed a fake quote to Adolf Hitler, and made offensive comments about Asians and various religions. Many of his posts included slurs directed at the LGBTQ+ community.
In a statement addressing the resurfaced tweets, Borrego expressed regret for his past remarks, emphasizing his growth since then. “The posts in question were crude and immature jokes I made when I was a kid,” he stated. “I regret the language I used then and apologize to anyone it hurt. In no way do those past posts represent my current sentiments and feelings.”
At 30 years old, Borrego is a realtor and former education policy analyst, competing against Democratic strategist Kristian Carranza for the House District 118 seat. Republicans are eager to retain this seat after its current representative, John Lujan, chose not to seek reelection in favor of a congressional bid. Borrego has received endorsements from prominent figures, including Governor Greg Abbott and state Senator Mayes Middleton, the GOP nominee for attorney general.
Entering politics in 2021, Borrego served as legislative director for state Rep. J.M. Lozano before becoming a policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, where he later directed K-12 education policy. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Texas A&M University and is currently the treasurer for the Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley.
Borrego has shared that he grew up in challenging circumstances, raised by a teenage mother while his father was incarcerated. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree, graduating from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
“I have always been open about growing up in an environment where drug and alcohol abuse were common, and as a kid, I sometimes used dark humor to cope with trauma I did not yet know how to process,” he explained in his statement. “That context explains the jokes, but it does not excuse them. I have grown and matured, and those posts do not reflect the husband, father, or public servant I am today.”
His campaign priorities include protecting children from fentanyl and creating opportunities for Texans, particularly those growing up in poverty. A review by the Tribune found over 50 of Borrego’s posts mentioning drugs, as well as crude commentary on various topics.
Despite being new to the political arena, Borrego has established a presence in Austin, advocating for key Republican initiatives such as the Teacher Bill of Rights and private school vouchers. In March, he secured the GOP nomination with 53% of the vote in a competitive primary against rivals backed by trial lawyers.
In the upcoming November election, Borrego will face Carranza, who nearly flipped the district in the previous election cycle. House District 118 is a majority-Hispanic area that has seen a mix of Republican and Democratic representation over the past decade, and Democrats are making it a target once again.
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows is scheduled to hold a fundraiser on behalf of Borrego and other local incumbents facing tight races. As political tensions rise, the scrutiny of candidates’ past social media activity has become increasingly relevant.
As the political landscape evolves, both parties must navigate the implications of their candidates’ online histories, illustrating the importance of social media vetting in today’s electoral climate. Carranza has publicly criticized Borrego’s remarks, asserting that he is unfit for public office.
