Bexar DA Gonzales Backs 4 Candidates in Crowded Dem Primary

Outgoing district attorney endorses four prosecutors to succeed him, citing need for experience in the role.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales, a Democrat who announced he will not seek a third term, has endorsed four candidates he believes are suited to replace him, including three from within his own office. Gonzales cited the need for the next DA to have prior prosecutorial experience, rather than "on-the-job training." The crowded Democratic primary field includes several prosecutors as well as defense attorneys and a former judge.

Why it matters

The Bexar County DA's office oversees a large staff and budget, making the choice of the next DA an important decision for the community. Gonzales' endorsements could sway the primary election, though he has avoided singling out a single preferred candidate. The race has also highlighted issues like staffing challenges and case backlogs that the next DA will need to address.

The details

Gonzales said his top picks are his juvenile division chief Jane Davis, his family violence chief Melli Powers, and prosecutor Oscar Salinas. He also included Jim Bethke, the director of Bexar County's Managed Assigned Counsel Office, though he said the other three have an edge. Gonzales said Davis and Powers have done "great jobs" leading their divisions and have decades of prosecutorial experience, while Salinas has "a lot of energy" and Bethke has the necessary administrative experience.

  • In June 2025, Gonzales announced he would not seek a third term as Bexar County District Attorney.
  • The Democratic primary election is scheduled for March 2026.

The players

Joe Gonzales

The outgoing Bexar County District Attorney, a Democrat who announced he will not seek a third term.

Jane Davis

Gonzales' juvenile division chief, one of his top picks to succeed him as DA.

Melli Powers

Gonzales' family violence chief, another of his top picks to succeed him as DA.

Oscar Salinas

A prosecutor in Gonzales' office, one of his top picks to succeed him as DA.

Jim Bethke

The director of Bexar County's Managed Assigned Counsel Office, also on Gonzales' list of top picks to succeed him as DA.

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What they’re saying

“The ideal candidate to take over should be somebody who's done this job before, who's been a prosecutor. It's important that the voters know that this is not the kind of job that one should have on-the-job training.”

— Joe Gonzales, Bexar County District Attorney (expressnews.com)

“Being a justice is a different job than being an advocate. There's a difference between calling balls and strikes as a referee and being a baseball player.”

— Joe Gonzales, Bexar County District Attorney (expressnews.com)

What’s next

Gonzales said he would likely endorse one of the four candidates he has identified during a potential run-off or general election in November 2026.

The takeaway

Gonzales' endorsements of experienced prosecutors to succeed him as Bexar County DA highlight the importance of technical expertise in the role, rather than "on-the-job training." The crowded primary field reflects the high stakes of the election, as the next DA will oversee a large office and budget, and face challenges like staffing issues and case backlogs.