US House · TX-23
FederalBrandon Herrera (R) faces Katy Padilla Stout (D) for TX-23's U.S. House seat on November 3, 2026.
Tony Gonzales withdrew from the runoff March 5 amid a House ethics investigation, then resigned from Congress in April 2026; the seat has been vacant since. Brandon Herrera, who led the primary 43.3% to 41.7%, is the automatic Republican nominee. Trump endorsed Herrera March 11. Cook and Sabato moved the race from Safe to Likely Republican after the withdrawal.
Represents West Texas, the Big Bend, and western San Antonio in Congress, the largest House district in Texas by area, stretching from San Antonio to El Paso.
November General Election
Nov 3, 2026Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball both moved this to Likely Republican after Tony Gonzales withdrew March 5 following a House Ethics Committee investigation; Gonzales then resigned his seat in April 2026 and the district has had no representative since. Brandon Herrera, a firearms-content creator with no political record, is the nominee in a structurally Republican West Texas district.
The November ballot, explained
Texas race coverage by email, only when something changes before Nov 3.
Primary Results
Winner.Brandon Herrera
Tony Gonzales
Keith Barton
Francisco Canseco
Winner.Katy Padilla Stout
Santos Limon
Bruce Richardson
Gretel Marysdatter EnckRepublican nominee
Firearms manufacturer; content creator
Democratic nominee
Attorney
Also on the ballot
- Ben MendozaIndependent
Certified for the November 3 ballot by the Texas Secretary of State, August 28, 2026.
Campaign Finance
Dataset updated Sep 19, 2026FEC · Coverage through Jun 30, 2026
Republican nominee, TX-23; candidate ID dates to his 2024 run.
FEC · Coverage through Jun 30, 2026
Democratic nominee, TX-23.
| Candidate | Party | Total Raised | Total Spent | Cash on Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Herrera | Republican | $1,937,719 | $1,636,736 | $309,023 |
| Katy Padilla Stout | Democratic | $484,915 | $313,542 | $171,373 |
Frequently Asked
Who is running for Congress in Texas' 23rd District in 2026?
Brandon Herrera (R) faces Katy Padilla Stout (D) in the November 3, 2026 general election.
When is the 2026 TX-23 election?
The general election is November 3, 2026. The voter registration deadline is October 5, early voting runs October 19 to 30, and mail-ballot applications are due October 23.
Is the 2026 TX-23 race competitive?
Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball rate the race Likely Republican. The rating is the handicapper's assessment, not a TexPolls forecast.
What area does TX-23 cover?
Represents West Texas, the Big Bend, and western San Antonio in Congress, the largest House district in Texas by area, stretching from San Antonio to El Paso.
How were the 2026 TX-23 nominees decided?
Tony Gonzales withdrew from the runoff March 5 amid a House ethics investigation, then resigned from Congress in April 2026; the seat has been vacant since. Brandon Herrera, who led the primary 43.3% to 41.7%, is the automatic Republican nominee. Trump endorsed Herrera March 11. Cook and Sabato moved the race from Safe to Likely Republican after the withdrawal.
Who else is on the ballot in Texas' 23rd District in 2026?
Beyond the Republican and Democratic nominees, Ben Mendoza is running as an independent. The full November 3 ballot was certified by the Texas Secretary of State on August 28, 2026.
Key Dates
Other federal races
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