The field of candidates vying to become San Antonio’s newest state representative continues to grow, and the result could be a crowded race that requires a runoff election to decide the victor.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced this week that the special election to replace former Rep. Justin Rodriguez in the Texas House will be Feb. 12, setting up a frenzied, five-week campaign in San Antonio as lawmakers in Austin begin the legislative session.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Monday to file the necessary paperwork to appear on the ballot.

Whoever wins will have to catch up in a legislative session that will be in full swing by the time the race is over.

On Monday, three Democrats confirmed they intend to run for the seat: Ray Lopez, who served for eight years on the San Antonio City Council; Coda Rayo-Garza, a policy advocate who is a coordinator for the San Antonio Independent School District; and Art Reyna, who held the seat from 1996 through 2002 and also has served on the Leon Valley City Council.

At least two others are seriously considering mounting a bid, according to veteran Democratic strategist Christian Archer: Cris Medina, who was ousted from the City Council in 2017, and Scott Metzger, who started Freetail Brewing Co. and often has advocated for the craft beer industry in Austin.

On ExpressNews.com: Gov. sets special election for San Antonio's open House seat

Archer said he isn’t looking to join a campaign in the race and hasn’t worked for any of the named candidates in the past.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if this field grows from five to 10,” he said.

Medina confirmed he is considering running and would make a final decision this weekend.

Metzger declined to comment on his intentions, but he confirmed he lives in the district, which is a Democratic stronghold covering a swath of the West and Northwest sides.

Rodriguez said both men reached out to him this week, along with the three confirmed candidates.

He resigned his House seat when he accepted an appointment to the Bexar County Commissioners Court on Friday, taking the Precinct 2 seat held for decades by the late Paul Elizondo.

The vacancy left the Bexar County delegation down a member when the session began Tuesday.

Archer said the race will be defined by quirks of its timing, including the likelihood that turnout will be extremely low.

The size and quality of the field mean it’s likely the election will go to a runoff, Archer said.

“Anything can happen in an off-cycle special election,” he said.

The prospect of a runoff election means it could be months before the seat is filled. Runoffs occur when no candidate garners a majority of the vote and the top two finishers proceed to a final round.

Candidates must be American citizens 21 or older who have lived in the district for at least one year and in Texas for at least two years.

The filing fee to enter is $750.

“There’s a long way between, ‘Here’s my $700,’ and confetti cannons going off,” Archer said.

Dylan McGuinness covers local politics and the Bexar County government for the Express-News. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | dylan.mcguinness@express-news.net | Twitter: @DylMcGuinness