Philip Cortez
Texas State Representative, District 117 since 2012. Ran in 8 elections between 2012 and 2024, winning 7. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 14 yrs
- Since 2012
- Bills became law
- 16
- 69 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 8.3%
- Chamber median 4.4%
- With party
- 78%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +38.7
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- General Aviation Select
- Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs
- Intergovernmental Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
EMAIL & ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS (S0321) · Became law Jun 2025
DENTAL SERVICES (S8594) · Became law Jun 2025
Energy--Geothermal (IP9BV) · Became law Jun 2025
Disabilities, Persons with (I0380) · Became law Jun 2025
Governor (I0375) · Became law Jun 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Cortez sits in the Texas House of Representatives
Cortez is closer to the center than 90% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Armando Martinez, Eddie Morales, Claudia Ordaz
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:04 PM ET
With Cortez’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats78%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills98%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Cortez’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Cortez | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2025 | HB 18: Relating to a restriction on the acceptance of political contributions and the making of… | Not voting | Yes | No | Passed 82–42 |
| Aug 28, 2025 | SB 8: Relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex;… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 80–48 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | HB 26: Relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties. | Not voting | No | Yes | Passed 95–29 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | HB 192: Relating to the funding of law enforcement agencies in certain counties. | No | No | Yes | Passed 88–45 |
| Aug 26, 2025 | HB 8: Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of… | No | No | Yes | Passed 71–63 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Cortez was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Texas House of Representatives, District 117 | Won | D+38.7 | D+12.0 | +26.7 |
| 2024 | Texas House of Representatives, District 117 | Won | D+16.0 | D+12.0 | +4.0 |
| 2022 | Texas House of Representatives, District 117 | Won | D+25.2 | D+27.0 | −1.8 |
| 2020 | Texas House of Representatives, District 117 | Won | D+13.6 | — | — |
| 2018 | Texas House of Representatives, District 117 | Won | D+14.8 | — | — |
| 2016 | Texas House of Representatives, District 117 | Won | D+2.7 | — | — |
| 2014 | Texas House of Representatives, District 117 | Lost | R+5.4 | — | — |
| 2014 | Texas House of Representatives, District 117 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Texas House of Representatives, District 117 | Won | D+7.6 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Texas Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $551.9K
- Spent
- $559.5K
- Cash
- $54.3K
Source: Texas Ethics Commission filings through Oct 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:49 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Philip Cortez State | Active |
Source: Texas Ethics Commission filings through Oct 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:49 AM ET
Seats Cortez has held
- Texas House of Representatives, District 117 · since 2016
- Texas House of Representatives, District 117 · since 2012
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Cortez has run against
- Ben Mostyn (R) · 2026 election, won
- Aaron Schwope (R) · 2022 election, won
- Carlos Antonio Raymond (R) · 2020 election, won
- Michael Berlanga (R) · 2018 election, won
- Rick Galindo (R) · 2016 election, won
- John V. Garza (R) · 2012 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Texas Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Cortez
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/12d67093-ab4c-425d-afa3-e5777db09d1c
- Wikidata Q16217238
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET