Who's running in Texas's 38th congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Completing the border wall and ending what he calls the invasion.
Opposition to abortion with no exceptions: he says life begins at conception.
Removing what he calls woke curriculum and gender ideology from schools, and parental authority over education.
Second Amendment rights.
A public role for faith and religious liberty.
Opposing what he calls blank cheques for foreign wars, and opposition to vaccine mandates and mRNA vaccines.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Mortgage industry executive with over twenty years in real estate.
Deacon and Bible study teacher at Second Baptist Church in Houston.
Endorsed by President Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz.
Won the Republican nomination for the open seat in 2026.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
He led the eleven-candidate March primary with 47.7% against 18.6% for the runner-up, and won the runoff, with Donald Trump's endorsement behind him.
— Primary and runoff results reported by Ballotpedia and Houston Public Media
He denies the loan allegation made against him and his campaign sought a retraction of it.
— Jon Bonck's campaign, reported by Legis1
Arguments against
His mortgage business originated loans for undocumented immigrants — a charge that carried weight in a district where immigration is among the most-discussed issues.
— Shelly deZevallos's campaign, reported by Legis1; Bonck denies it
He is "Washington's handpicked candidate" in the race — the Houston Chronicle editorial board recommended his opponent over him in the runoff.
— Houston Chronicle editorial board
What we couldn’t verify
Whether a retraction was issued over the loan allegation was not established from the sources found.
He has held no elected office, so there is no voting record to set against his campaign's positions.
No criticism of him by name from Melissa McDonough's campaign or from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was found.
Increased public school funding and affordable tuition.
Defending democratic institutions and expanding voting access.
Renewable energy innovation and flood mitigation.
Medicare for All and reproductive autonomy.
Responsible gun ownership alongside measures to prevent mass shootings, and border management that addresses root causes of migration.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Harris County resident for nearly three decades; businesswoman and community organiser.
Won the Democratic nomination for the open seat in 2026.
Endorsed by the Texas AFL-CIO, the Houston Chronicle editorial board, Gun Sense Voter and Texas Stonewall Democrats.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of McDonough by name could be found: not from Jon Bonck or his campaign, not from the National Republican Congressional Committee, and not from Houston news coverage, which centred on the Republican runoff. Because no case against her exists on the record, none is presented for her either, rather than showing her own campaign's case unanswered.
Her positions and record were not stated in material available beyond her campaign site.
Her fundraising totals were not reported in material available.
Universal free health care as a human right, replacing the private insurance system.
Free higher education.
Higher wages, stronger unions and action on the cost of living.
Removing corporate money from politics; he refuses contributions from organisations including AIPAC.
Ending overseas military involvement and current domestic immigration enforcement practices.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Green Party nominee for the 38th District, certified for the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Born and raised in Tomball; youngest of three brothers, raised in a low-income household.
Studied theatre and later accounting; did not complete the degree.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of McMenemy by name could be found, and no published case for him beyond his own campaign site. As a Green Party candidate he has drawn very little coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either.
His fundraising and any endorsements were not reported in material available.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
This seat is open: Republican incumbent Wesley Hunt is not on the November ballot. Three candidates are: Republican Jon Bonck, Democrat Melissa McDonough and Green Party candidate Alex McMenemy. The district covers west Houston and northwest Harris County, including River Oaks, Tanglewood, Spring Branch, the Energy Corridor, Jersey Village, Cypress and Tomball. Roster confirmed against the Texas Secretary of State's certified ballot. No candidate is listed with arguments for or against here: no published criticism of any of them by name from someone opposing them could be found, and setting out a case against one and not the others would tilt the page.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Texas ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.