San Antonio Democrat chastised for changing her name has used it professionally since 2015

Texas House candidate Kristian Carranza, a Democrat whom the Bexar County GOP accused of changing her name to woo Hispanic voters, has used that same surname in professional settings since at least 2015, according to former colleagues. The controversy surrounding the Carranza's last name made headlines Tuesday after county GOP Chairwoman Kris Coons told reporters during a press conference that party attorneys were considering filing a lawsuit against the Democratic candidate because she legally changed her name from Thompson in January 2023. "We believe that [her last name] was changed, possibly, you know, to have a beautiful Hispanic last name in a beautiful Hispanic district to influence voters," Coons said of Carranza, who's running to represent the South Side's Texas House District 118.