Philip Cortez (born April 5, 1971) is an American attorney and Democratic politician from San Antonio, Texas. He is best known for his service as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, where he represented District 117, which includes portions of Bexar County.
Early life and education
Cortez was born and raised in San Antonio. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Texas at Austin. He subsequently obtained his Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law, also in San Antonio.
Legal career
After being admitted to the State Bar of Texas, Cortez practiced law in private practice, focusing on civil litigation and public‑interest matters. He has also served as a public‑defender and worked with nonprofit organizations on issues such as immigration and housing.
Political career
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Texas House of Representatives (2011–2013) – Cortez was first elected to the Texas House in the 2010 general election, beginning his term in January 2011. During this period, he served on committees including Transportation and Redistricting.
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Interim period (2013–2015) – After losing his seat in the 2012 election, Cortez returned to private legal practice and remained active in local Democratic Party affairs.
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Texas House of Representatives (2015–2021) – Cortez reclaimed the District 117 seat in the 2014 election and was subsequently re‑elected in 2016 and 2018. While in office, he chaired the House Committee on Redistricting (2017–2019) and served on committees dealing with Transportation, Judiciary, and Economic Development. He advocated for infrastructure improvements, public‑education funding, and criminal‑justice reform.
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2020 congressional campaign – Cortez entered the Democratic primary for Texas’s 35th congressional district in 2020. He was defeated in the primary election, after which he concluded his service in the state legislature at the end of his term in January 2021.
Post‑legislative activities
Following his legislative career, Cortez has continued to work as an attorney and remains involved in community organizing and Democratic Party initiatives in the San Antonio area.
Personal life
Cortez is married and has children. He resides in San Antonio, where he participates in local civic and cultural organizations.
This entry reflects information available from publicly documented election results, legislative records, and biographical data from official Texas legislative sources.
