What happens when a kid from the South Side of San Antonio decides he wants to make a difference in his community? In this episode, Matt Reyna sits down with Texas Senate District 19 candidate Marcus Cardenas to talk about growing up together, family, faith, business, politics, property taxes, education, and what inspired Marcus to run for office. This is an honest conversation about leadership, community, and the challenges facing everyday Texans.

🎙️ In this episode:
• Growing up on the South Side of San Antonio
• Childhood memories and family roots
• Marcus' path into politics
• Why he left the Democratic Party
• Running for Texas Senate District 19
• Property taxes and home affordability
• School districts and education concerns
• Small business and economic development
• Losing his brother and overcoming adversity
• Faith, perseverance, and personal growth

🧠 What you'll learn:
• Why local politics impacts your daily life
• The importance of understanding who represents you
• Challenges facing Texas homeowners
• How school boards influence communities
• Lessons from entrepreneurship and leadership
• How adversity can shape your future
• Why community involvement matters

⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro & Marcus Cardenas Joins the Podcast
00:24 Campaign Update & Senate Runoff Victory
01:16 Growing Up Together on San Antonio's South Side
03:09 Childhood, Community & Early Influences
04:11 Getting Involved in Politics
05:36 Why Marcus Stepped Away from the Democratic Party
07:30 Political Beliefs & Community Priorities
08:50 Property Taxes & Homeownership Challenges
10:33 School Boards & Education Issues
11:27 What Is Texas Senate District 19?
13:27 Family Support & Running for Office
14:04 Losing His Brother & Life Lessons
15:00 Faith, Patience & Personal Growth
15:50 Spurs Analogy & Perspective on Success

📢 About the Podcast

Anything & Everything with Matt Reyna is a podcast featuring real conversations about life, business, sports, current events, entrepreneurship, politics, and the stories that shape our communities.

📌 Connect With Matt Reyna

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https://www.instagram.com/mattreyna2023/

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https://www.facebook.com/matt.reyna.12

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https://www.tiktok.com/@mattreynaspodcast