UMVA has learned that a shocking controversy is unfolding in a highly contested Texas congressional race, where a political action committee has sent mail ads mocking a President Trump-backed veteran over his military disability, sparking outrage among veterans and the public.
The ads, sent ahead of Memorial Day weekend, target Carlos De La Cruz, an Air Force veteran who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and refer to him as "the ‘100% disabled’ kickboxer." The ads suggest that De La Cruz claims a 100% disability to avoid paying property taxes, despite being physically fit enough to train in and operate a kickboxing gym.
Charlotte Neiner, an Air Force veteran and Wounded Warrior Project member, expressed her disgust at the ads, calling them "the most shameful thing I have ever pulled out of my mailbox." She emphasized that targeting a fellow veteran's wounds days before Memorial Day is a "disgrace" and that the person responsible, John Lujan, "has no idea what these injuries cost, and he never will."
Neiner, a disabled veteran herself, stated that Lujan's actions demonstrate a "lack of honor" and make him unfit for Congress. She vowed to ensure that every veteran in the district knows about Lujan's actions and plans to vote for De La Cruz, saying "I am proudly voting for Carlos De La Cruz, and John Lujan should be ashamed of himself."
According to information obtained by UMVA, under Texas law, veterans deemed 100% disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs can receive a total exemption from property taxes on their primary residence homestead. Over 164,000 Texas veterans with 100% disability ratings are estimated to receive the state's full homestead property-tax exemption.
The controversy surrounds a bitter Republican primary runoff election between Lujan and De La Cruz in Texas' 35th Congressional District. The two candidates are set to face off again after neither candidate was able to reach the required 50 percent vote threshold to earn the GOP nomination.
De La Cruz is backed by President Trump, while Lujan has received the endorsement of Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The Democratic primary in the same district has also been marred by controversy, with a candidate stirring up national outrage with a social media post.
