Former San Antonio Mayor Campaigns in Tesla Without Branding

Julián Castro's electric vehicle has no visible Tesla logos as he runs for Bexar County judge.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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As he campaigns for Bexar County judge, the former mayor of San Antonio has been driving his Tesla electric vehicle all around the county, but the car has no visible Tesla branding or logos on it.

Why it matters

The lack of Tesla branding on Julián Castro's electric vehicle raises questions about whether he is trying to distance himself from the automaker's controversial CEO Elon Musk, who has made headlines for his political views and statements. Castro's campaign strategy could also be an attempt to appeal to a wider range of voters by not overtly associating himself with a specific brand.

The details

Castro, who served as mayor of San Antonio from 2009 to 2014 and was also U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama, is currently running for Bexar County judge. In his campaign travels around the county, he has been spotted driving a Tesla vehicle that has no visible Tesla logos or branding on the exterior.

  • Julián Castro served as mayor of San Antonio from 2009 to 2014.
  • Castro is currently running for Bexar County judge in the 2026 election.

The players

Julián Castro

A former mayor of San Antonio who is currently running for Bexar County judge.

Elon Musk

The controversial CEO of Tesla, the electric vehicle company that Julián Castro is driving without any visible branding.

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The takeaway

Castro's decision to remove the Tesla branding from his electric vehicle during his campaign for Bexar County judge suggests he may be trying to distance himself from the polarizing figure of Elon Musk and Tesla's political controversies in order to appeal to a wider range of voters.