AUSTIN, Texas —

In Texas, many of the general election races are not competitive, meaning the primary elections on Tuesday take on extra importance. Often, the candidate who wins in March wins in November.

One of the contests that could be decided on Super Tuesday is the Travis County District Attorney‘s race.

Supporters for both incumbents Jose Garza and challenger Jeremy Sylestine were out trying to sway voters on Monday.

Garza and campaign volunteers pointed out disruptions from this weekend’s “get out the vote” event. They said a group of armed bikers followed and harassed volunteers as they were trying to talk to voters.

Campaign volunteers Iris Suddaby and Eli Melendez described what happened.

“My partner and I were followed by seven people [who] were trying to disrupt these conversations. “Our concern wasn’t just us – it was also the householder, so we knew we kind of had to lose them,” Suddaby said.

“Many had guns. Many have knives. And, you know, they were obviously trying to intimidate us. We were just out there trying to talk to voters, spread information. And, obviously, they have very different tactics,” Melendez said.

Forty-five minutes later, at a separate press conference, a group of crime victims and victims’ loved ones came out against Garza. Ppolitical action committee Save Austin Now gathered the group.

The group talked about their experiences with the district attorney, saying Garza did not pursue tougher penalties in their cases.

Nick Cantor lost his brother in the mass shooting on Sixth Street in 2021.

“I can’t tell you as a victim how revictimized that made me and my family feel like we had the false bill of goods sold to us, that