Service, Sacrifice, and San Antonio: John Lira Launches Campaign for Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2025
Contact: Juan Rodriguez
312-771-0263
Service, Sacrifice, and San Antonio: John Lira Launches Campaign for Congress
Born and raised in San Antonio, Lira pledges to put working families and democracy first.
WHAT: Campaign Launch for John Lira for Congress
WHEN: September 30, 2025 | 6:00pm-8:00pm
WHERE: Highlands Social Club, 2929 S. WW White Road, San Antonio, TX
Supporters, neighbors, and community members are invited to join John Lira for the official launch of his campaign for U.S. Congress in Texas’ newly redrawn 35th Congressional District. The event will feature remarks from Lira, opportunities to connect with community leaders, and a chance to stand together at the start of a campaign rooted in service and San Antonio values.
San Antonio, TX — John Lira,Marine veteran, public policy leader, and proud son of San Antonio’s Southeast Side, will officially launch his campaign for the U.S. Congress in Texas’ 35th Congressional District on Tuesday, September 30.
Born into a fourth-generation Mexican American family, Lira grew up in Southeast Bexar County and graduated from East Central High School. At 17, following a chance encounter with a Marine recruiter—and inspired by his uncle’s sacrifice as a civil servant killed in the Oklahoma City bombing—Lira enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He went on to serve 11 years, including two combat tours in Iraq.
Using the GI Bill, Lira became the first in his family to graduate from college, earning degrees from San Antonio College, The University of Texas at San Antonio, and a master’s in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. His career in Washington has included roles as a legislative fellow in the U.S. House of Representatives, a management and program analyst at the Small Business Administration and AmeriCorps and as a senior policy leader the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. Lira’s career has always been focused on lifting up veterans, families, and small businesses.
“I’m running for Congress because service has defined my life – from busboy, to the battlefield, to the halls of government,” said Lira.
“Our democracy is under constant attack from a Republican Party willing to trample the very Constitution I swore to defend. Meanwhile, working families are being squeezed, and too many leaders are looking the other way. This district deserves a representative who will step into the fight — not shrink away from it.”
Lira’s campaign will focus on tackling the high cost of living, reviving American small business, investing in modern infrastructure, defending democracy, and standing with veterans.
“The newly drawn 35th District is home to working class families, farmers, ranchers, and communities that keep Texas strong,” Lira added. “It would be an honor to represent the people of Bexar, Guadalupe, Wilson, and Karnes counties, and deliver the results that they deserve in Washington, DC..”
Lira lives in San Antonio with his wife, Dr. Michelle Espino Lira, a professor from El Paso. He has one daughter, Rozlyn, a college student.
For more information, visit liraforcongress.com and follow @LiraForCongress on Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram.
About John Lira
John Lira is a Marine veteran, public policy leader, and lifelong servant of his community. Raised on San Antonio’s Southeast Side, he served 11 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two combat deployments to Iraq. A first-generation college graduate, he earned degrees from San Antonio College, UTSA, and Carnegie Mellon University before advancing federal policies to support veterans, strengthen public service, and expand opportunities for working families. Now, he is running for Congress to continue a lifetime of service to his country and community.
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