Democrat Diego Bernal, a former San Antonio City Council member, handily won a runoff election Tuesday in Texas House District 123.

GOP candidate Nunzio Previtera couldn’t persuade enough voters to support him, despite efforts by Gov. Greg Abbott, who’d campaigned in San Antonio for the Republican contender.

Scores of Bernal’s supporters packed into Los Barrios restaurant to celebrate the victory. They chanted “Go, Diego, Go!” and applauded, drowning out live mariachi music as Bernal entered the restaurant.

Bernal credited his campaign staff and volunteers for the win, saying he couldn’t have knocked on thousands of doors, made as many telephone calls or sent direct mail without their daily help.

In an interview before he addressed his supporters, Bernal summed up his initial reaction to winning with a single word: “Wow.”

“I’m excited, humbled. I’m ready,” he said. “The weight of the responsibility is not lost on me.”

U.S. Rep Joaquin Castro stopped by to offer his support to Bernal, a longtime friend.

More Information Nunzio Previtera (REP) 2,950 total votes, 36.33 percent Diego Bernal (DEM) 5,170 total votes, 63.67 percent

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“He’s going to do an incredible job for San Antonio,” Castro said. “Diego is well-respected across the political spectrum for his passion for the issues and service to the people he represents.”

Bernal, who was first elected to the council in 2011, said his work with that nonpartisan body prepared him for both the campaign and for serving in the Republican-dominated Legislature.

“I believe it’s valuable to come from a nonpartisan environment, not because of the makeup of the council but because City Council voters are both Democrats and Republicans,” he said. “It taught me valuable lessons about listening and finding middle ground.”

Finding middle ground in Austin may be difficult, though.

There are initiatives coming out of Austin that cannot be allowed to pass, Bernal said. So he said his job will include playing “good defense” during the session.

U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said in an interview at Bernal’s party that he believes the new representative will be a strong voice in the Legislature and someone who can build bridges across party lines without compromising himself.

“I have confidence that Diego will stay true to his values,” Doggett said.

Doggett said he worked with Bernal in 2013 as he spearheaded an effort in San Antonio to bolster the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. The initiative became a hot-button issue drawing countless hours of vitriolic public input. The ordinance now also protects people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Bernal was targeted by a small religious group that sought to recall him and others who voted for the ordinance. But the group failed to garner enough signatures in any of their attempts to oust elected leaders.

Doggett said he saw in Bernal during the nondiscrimination initiative a willingness to tackle difficult issues and steer them to completion — an important characteristic for success in Austin.

Once sworn in, Bernal will become the 52nd Democrat in the 150-member House.