Carlos De La Cruz was born in the 1980s in San Antonio, Texas. He enlisted in the Air Force at 17 and served for two decades, including deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Post-retirement, De La Cruz founded a business in San Antonio, where he focused on mentoring young people and navigating government regulations. His professional background includes extensive experience in high-stakes environments, transitioning from military service to leadership in the private sector.

Carlos De La Cruz combines a staunch defense of conservative values with a surprising focus on localized economic policies, advocating for both border security and support for Texas farmers. His military background informs a hardline stance on national security and law enforcement, yet he also champions deregulation to boost energy independence. De La Cruz's rhetoric often pits "Washington elites" against "hardworking Americans," revealing a deeply binary worldview. His support for veterans' care and Social Security coexists with a commitment to cutting wasteful spending, creating an intriguing tension in his platform.