Horning cites Marine service, youth mentoring in mayor's race

Ryan Horning is asking Del Rio voters to see a Marine Reserve communications chief and youth mentor as the right fit to run city hall, not because of résumé length, but because of how he says he handles pressure, people and process. With six candidates filed for mayor in the May 2, 2026 municipal election, Horning’s case adds another layer to a crowded race for a city that has to balance growth, public trust and day-to-day services in Val Verde County.

Horning’s profile leans heavily on service. He said six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve taught him to manage critical systems, lead teams and keep communications equipment working during field exercises, lessons he said shaped how he makes decisions under pressure. He also pointed to his leadership in a local Trail Life troop and his experience in a mock legislative session, where he introduced, debated and passed legislation, as evidence that he can listen, think critically and act decisively.

That mix gives Horning a campaign message built around steady, transparent and accountable leadership over the next four years. It also sets up the central question in the race: if Horning were elected, which municipal problems would he tackle first, and what would success look like by the end of his first year? In a city where voters will choose among Alvaro Arreola, James DeReus, Efrain V. Valdez, Lazaro Castro and other candidates, Horning is presenting himself as an alternative to the familiar rhythms of city hall, one rooted more in service and discipline than in long municipal tenure.

The race carries weight in a city that has been part of Texas since 1905 and now has an estimated 34,678 residents, according to July 1, 2024 Census figures. Del Rio is about 85.3% Hispanic or Latino, and Val Verde County, with an estimated population of 47,999, is about 81.6% Hispanic or Latino. The county also has a significant foreign-born population, a reminder that city leadership here has to reflect a bilingual, cross-border community with practical concerns that touch families, workers and small businesses every day.

The city says the filing window for mayor and other offices ran from Jan. 14 to Feb. 13, 2026, after the council ordered the election by Ordinance 2025-108 on Dec. 16, 2025. The City Secretary’s office handles municipal elections and campaign finance reports, and the city lists Arreola as the incumbent mayor whose term expires in 2026. Horning, who was described in 2024 hospital district election coverage as being in federal law enforcement in the area, is trying to turn a record of service into a case for executive control of Del Rio’s future.