Damien Mockus

Damien Mockus (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 38th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.^[source]

Mockus completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Damien Mockus was born in New Jersey. Mockus earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Sam Houston State University in 2003. His career experience includes owning a gym and working as a personal trainer and an adjunct professor at Lone Star College. Mockus has been affiliated with the National Strength & Conditioning Association, NRA, Pleasant Hill Masonic Lodge #380, and the Knights of Columbus.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Elections

2026

General election

The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. House Texas District 38

Shelly deZevallos is running in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 38 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Shelly deZevallos (R)

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38

Curtis Cook II, Theresa Courts, Marvalette Hunter, and Melissa McDonough are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Curtis Cook II
		Theresa Courts
		Marvalette Hunter
		Melissa McDonough

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38

Incumbent Wesley Hunt, Jon Bonck, Barrett McNabb, and Damien Mockus are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Wesley Hunt
	Submit photo	Jon Bonck
		Barrett McNabb
		Damien Mockus

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 38

Wesley Hunt defeated Duncan Klussmann and Joel Dejean in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 38 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Wesley Hunt (R)	63.0	163,597
	Duncan Klussmann (D)	35.5	92,302
	Joel Dejean (Independent)	1.5	3,970

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 259,869
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Scott Cubbler (Independent)

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 38

Duncan Klussmann defeated Diana Martinez Alexander in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 38 on May 24, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Duncan Klussmann	61.1	6,449
	Diana Martinez Alexander	38.9	4,111

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,560
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38

Diana Martinez Alexander and Duncan Klussmann advanced to a runoff. They defeated Centrell Reed in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 1, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Diana Martinez Alexander	44.6	9,861
✔	Duncan Klussmann	39.3	8,698
	Centrell Reed	16.1	3,550

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 22,109
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Wesley Hunt	55.3	35,291
		Mark Ramsey	30.3	19,352
		David Hogan	4.9	3,125
		Roland Lopez	3.2	2,048
		Brett Guillory	2.2	1,416
		Jerry Ford Sr.	1.6	997
		Richard Welch	1.0	633
	Submit photo	Alex Cross	0.7	460
		Damien Mockus	0.4	249
		Philip Covarrubias	0.4	228

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 63,799
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

Damien Mockus completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mockus' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Small Business Owner

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Uphold Needs, Wants and fight for those who Voted for me!
End Political Waste and Corruption at the Federal Level
Address and adherence to common needs, laws and ethics for Texans & America

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Common sense approach with adhering to our Constitution and Rights

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

To fight for those elected these politicians and not to cave to lobbyist

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Have help train and coach people in their lives for 30 years now looking forward to helping Thousands more

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Damien Mockus completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mockus' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a small business owner Gym Cypress. I’m running for office on behalf of the working class people. Especially trade workers, those effected by government shut downs and small business owners.

I’m a hard worker and have been since a young teenager. I’ve taken each job ever had with serious work ethic and staying devoted during each jobs tender.

I’m looking forward to gaining your confidence and your Vote in District 38 during the 2022 election.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Jobs for the working class, trade workers, and those effected by government shut downs.
Against those in Government seeking additional power! against federal taxes, levy’s, liens on the working class and any Texans
Stronger Border protecting and better Covid and high risk disease education and treatment programs/government protocols

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

For Texas District 38 I am mainly passionate about and active in seeking companies to move and or expand to our area in the Piney Woods.

Education overall especially newer at home or distant learning issues that have arises during 2020 and ongoing.

Health & Wellness, prevention medicine and better reform for disease outbreak, control, preventions and protocol. This is one the federal level and with Texas Medical Schools and Hospitals. Especially working with Sam Houston's State New Medical School in Conroe.

Lookin into Police, Fire, EMS Military and 1st responders training and education, with the options of expanding training within our district (Texas 38th) for these who work in these fields.

Most importantly passing a bill/law that is effective in finding jobs and support systems for those effected by the federal or local government.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Thomas Edison- childhood hero; because of his various inventions and dedication to his work.

Ben Franklin-childhood hero; due over all life time achievements he had, I've hoped to follow!

George Washington-childhood hero. I wanted to be a Marine as a boy because of Washington and other war heroes .

Mark Kline-my sensei. My late father taught me Karate as a child, Mark helped me perfect it and find meaning within my Martial Art.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Yes, Its a document and its called

The US Constitution as Well as the Bill of Rights

for record its written "WE THE PEOPLE" not we the strong and powerful Government. Many in Washington either ignore this and it is the fundamental fact and reason our finding Fathers did what did to escapee the tyrants of England and unfair laws, Taxes that were and unfortunately still are enforced by our Federal Government.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Leadership, honestly and following through with promises

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Working with people, my leadership within the community and most importantly my dedication to my job/position on hand.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

taking care of the District you are elected for! far to many politicians are involved in other States or in short sticking there noses where don't belong!

What legacy would you like to leave?

My plan is to get more jobs and companies to commit to District 38 and the Piney Woods of east Texas.
my legacy as a trainer and gym owner have made its mark so now its time to repeat that on the Local level for Texans and the federal level as a Government Rep for the people within Texas District 38.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Space Shuttle Challenger disaster 12

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I've had more jobs as a teenager then some in lifetime

Paperboy 10yrs old , few months
Was a garner helper 11-13 yes few summers
Phone rep for Veterans 15 yes few months
Kmart 16-18 yrs
Pinkerton Security 18-20yrs
UPS 20 yrs

Independent Trainer since 1995

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

my hearing loss! Being legally Deaf is one of the single most main things that has been a struggle, However at same time being hearing impaired is one thing that helped me grow and become who I am today.
I've been picked on, picked last and blown off as a child and that had made me stronger when comes to helping others, especially those with limitations.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

If truly active Representatives act there true part then it’s the Representation of the American People

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. Plenty of them around, there is also certainly enough "Lawyers" who hold Political Office

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Our Nations Border controversy

Gun Rights
Government and Democrat's that seek to strengthen government that must be stopped
Medical and Medicine access, and policies that harm American People for right to choice medical insurance and care.
Coal, Natural vs Renewed Energy bills and or laws that cost jobs that are effecting Texans and Texas.
Police Fire EMS Military Training and education, reform on education during disaster, disease outbake, or civil unrest.

Space flight and rights for spacecraft and stations development and the building as well as implementation of these huge vessels into outer space.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Yes however not certain of them all as for there hundreds of them. But will be a committee that benefits the American people and or Texans.

Find it sad how much attention over seas committees get especially during times like we had past year and half now.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes, far to many whom are in Government do nothing and get re-elected to begin with.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Mockus submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on April 20, 2021.

Campaign website

Mockus' campaign website stated the following:

“

Helping Seniors

Address the needs of Rural areas of Texas such as Medical Access and/or medical specialist, access to Fiber Optic and high-speed internet and/or satellite cell phones especially for emergency use and personnel.

Protecting Medicare

Medicaid presents related, but somewhat different challenges. As the dominant force in the health market with regard to long-term care, births, and persons with mental illness, it is the next frontier of welfare reform. It is simply too big and too flawed to be administered from Washington.

This is an agenda to improve healthcare, not just to manage its costs. We reject the Democrats’ approach of rationing inherent in Obamacare. We recognize the de facto rationing of healthcare caused by reduced access to doctors who increasingly opt out of participating in Medicare and Medicaid. We will not accept that or any other approach which denies care — or lowers its quality — for America’s elderly.

Creating Jobs

Work with manufactures and distributors and convince them to relocate or create warehouses to stimulate the creation of new jobs and employment opportunities. Help small businesses recover and or obtain financial recovery from Government shutdowns during Covid-19 pandemic. Seeking tax breaks or forgivable loans and other relief opportunities for Small Business to regain loss profit during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fight any and all bills that taxes small to medium businesses in which said money goes either out of Texas, United States or helps to fund other countries.

Growing Our Economy

The fundamentals necessary for economic growth are a stable currency, the enforcement of contracts, the security of property rights, the accuracy of information in the market, and above all, the freedom of individuals to enjoy the fruit of their labor and to negotiate freely with others to exchange their goods and services under mutually acceptable terms.

Republicans know how to fix an economy because we have done so many times before. Whenever we have reduced the tax and regulatory burdens on the economy, it has thrived and expanded. And whenever we have increased those burdens, the economy has withered and declined.^[5]

”

—Damien Mockus' campaign website (2022)^[6]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Damien Mockus campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2026*	U.S. House Texas District 38	Candidacy Declared primary	$0	N/A**
2022	U.S. House Texas District 38	Lost primary	$0	N/A**
Grand total			$0	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

U.S. House Texas District 38

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 22, 2021.
↑ Gym Cypress, "Staff," accessed January 31, 2022
↑ Damien Mockus Republican for Texas Congressional District 38, "About Damien Mockus," accessed January 31, 2022
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 6, 2025
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Damien Mockus Republican for Texas Congressional District 38, “Our Agenda,” accessed January 27, 2022

[show]

Texas' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

John Cornyn (R)

Ted Cruz (R)

Representatives

District 1

Nathaniel Moran (R)

District 2

Daniel Crenshaw (R)

District 3

Keith Self (R)

District 4

Pat Fallon (R)

District 5

Lance Gooden (R)

District 6

Jake Ellzey (R)

District 7

Lizzie Fletcher (D)

District 8

Morgan Luttrell (R)

District 9

Al Green (D)

District 10

Michael McCaul (R)

District 11

August Pfluger (R)

District 12

Craig Goldman (R)

District 13

Ronny Jackson (R)

District 14

Randy Weber (R)

District 15

Monica De La Cruz (R)

District 16

Veronica Escobar (D)

District 17

Pete Sessions (R)

District 18

Vacant

District 19

Jodey Arrington (R)

District 20

Joaquin Castro (D)

District 21

Chip Roy (R)

District 22

Troy Nehls (R)

District 23

Tony Gonzales (R)

District 24

Beth Van Duyne (R)

District 25

Roger Williams (R)

District 26

Brandon Gill (R)

District 27

Michael Cloud (R)

District 28

Henry Cuellar (D)

District 29

Sylvia Garcia (D)

District 30

Jasmine Crockett (D)

District 31

John Carter (R)

District 32

Julie Johnson (D)

District 33

Marc Veasey (D)

District 34

Vicente Gonzalez (D)

District 35

Greg Casar (D)

District 36

Brian Babin (R)

District 37

Lloyd Doggett (D)

District 38

Wesley Hunt (R)

Republican Party (27)

Democratic Party (12)

Vacancies (1)

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 22, 2021.

[bio2-2] Gym Cypress, "Staff," accessed January 31, 2022

[bio3-3] Damien Mockus Republican for Texas Congressional District 38, "About Damien Mockus," accessed January 31, 2022

[4] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 6, 2025

[quotedisclaimer-5] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[6] Damien Mockus Republican for Texas Congressional District 38, “Our Agenda,” accessed January 27, 2022

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Damien Mockus

Biography

Elections

2026

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 38

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 38

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 38

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

Campaign website

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

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