Republican Brandon Herrera and Democrat Katy Padilla Stout faced off in a heated debate Tuesday ahead of Election Day, sparring over guns, immigration, border security, data centers, water and affordability.
The debate, hosted by WOAI/KABB, was the first and only scheduled debate between the candidates before the election. The two are competing to represent Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, which stretches from western San Antonio through parts of Southwest Texas toward El Paso.
Herrera, who got his start as a Youtube creator, is a firearms manufacturer, and Second-Amendment activist. His campaign platform focuses on border security, cutting taxes and government spending, reducing regulations, defending gun rights and imposing congressional term limits. His campaign also says he would co-sponsor a constitutional amendment limiting House members to three terms and senators to two.
Padilla Stout is a San Antonio attorney and former teacher who is campaigning on issues including firearm regulations, the cost of living, and universal Pre-K. Her campaign says she supports the Second Amendment while advocating for additional restrictions on firearm access.
The debate became contentious almost immediately when Padilla Stout questioned Herrera’s character and brought up a video he filmed in Uvalde County about three months after the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting.
Padilla Stout initially said Herrera had visited Robb Elementary and fired rounds at child-shaped targets. Herrera disputed the claim, and Padilla Stout later apologized and clarified that she had misstated the location. She was referring to a video filmed elsewhere in Uvalde County, not at the elementary school.
The candidates also disagreed over how to prevent future mass shootings.
Herrera advocated for better-trained law enforcement and armed security at schools, including potentially using military veterans. Padilla Stout instead emphasized mental health resources and called for raising the minimum age to purchase assault-style rifles to 21.
Padilla Stout’s campaign platform also calls for universal background checks, a ban on bump stocks and red-flag laws, while supporting additional mental health and crisis-intervention funding.
Immigration and border security were also major points of disagreement.
Herrera said the U.S.-Mexico border should remain closed and called for stronger enforcement.
“I think it (the border) needs to remain closed. I think we need strong border policy,” Herrera said.
Padilla Stout said border communities need security but argued that the region also needs a functioning border that allows lawful commerce and cooperation with Mexico.
“We need a functioning border. We do not need a closed border and we certainly don’t need an open border,” she said.
Both candidates oppose constructing a physical border wall through the Big Bend region, although they disagree over other approaches to border security. Padilla Stout questioned Herrera’s support for technology-based border security measures, while Herrera argued that a physical barrier could damage the region.
The candidates also addressed concerns over the growth of data centers in West Texas and their impact on water and electricity supplies.
Herrera said he supports protections against excessive water consumption but argued that decisions about data centers should largely remain with local governments. He also advocated for making data centers “water positive,” meaning they would contribute to water supplies rather than simply consume them.
Meanwhile, Padilla Stout said she would work toward federal standards designed to protect communities from excessive resource consumption. She also said data centers should contribute financially toward the infrastructure and resources they use.
Another area of concern for constituents, not just in Texas District 23, but in the whole state, is affordability and lowering the cost of living.
Herrera proposed lowering taxes and reducing what he described as government burdens on working families. He also highlighted his relationships with Republican leaders in Washington as a potential advantage for the district.
Padilla Stout emphasized health care, including expanding access to Medicare and strengthening the Affordable Care Act. She also supports universal pre-K, which she says would provide additional support to working families.
