Earnest Clayton

Earnest Clayton

Democratic Party

Candidate, U.S. House Texas District 9

Elections and appointments

Next election

March 3, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

Texas Southern University, 2012

Personal

Birthplace

Port Arthur, Texas

Religion

Baptist

Profession

Research scientist

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Instagram

Earnest Clayton (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 9th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.^[source]

Clayton also ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 18th Congressional District. He will not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.

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

Biography

Earnest Clayton was born in Port Arthur, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University in 2012. His career experience includes working as a research scientist.

Elections

2026

See also: Texas' 9th Congressional District election, 2026

General election

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

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 9

Incumbent Al Green, Earnest Clayton, and Peter Filler are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 9 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Al Green
		Earnest Clayton
		Peter Filler

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 9

The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 9 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Alexandria Butler
		Briscoe Cain
	Submit photo	Peter Emmert
		Alex Mealer
		Dan Mims
		Dwayne Stovall
		Deddrick Wilmer

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

See also: Texas' 18th Congressional District election, 2026

General election

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

Democratic primary election

There are no candidates on the ballot in the Democratic primary at this time.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Earnest Clayton (D)
• Sylvester Turner (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18

Allen Berry, Carmen Montiel, and Cyrus Sajna are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Allen Berry
		Carmen Montiel
		Cyrus Sajna

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Earnest Clayton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Clayton's 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 Earnest Clayton, a public health professional, educator, and advocate running as a Democrat for Texas’s 9th Congressional District. I bring 18 years of experience in healthcare, education, and community leadership. My career has been rooted in service, whether managing multimillion dollar health grants, teaching the next generation of health leaders, or building community programs focused on mental health and prevention. I am not a career politician. I am your neighbor, your advocate, and someone who has lived and worked alongside the people of District 9 for nearly two decades.

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?

• I will fight for affordable and accessible healthcare, ensuring families in District 9 have the resources they need to live healthy and dignified lives.
• I will prioritize creating good jobs, strengthening Medicare, and protecting healthcare access so that every resident has economic security and the medical care they deserve.
• I will focus on equity and justice, addressing issues like housing, fair wages, and community safety to ensure that every resident of District 9 can thrive.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about public health, education, and economic justice. My work has centered on tackling health disparities, strengthening schools, and expanding opportunity for working families. I believe that healthy communities, strong educational systems, and fair economic policies are the foundation of a thriving District 9.

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

I look up to Barbara Jordan. She was a trailblazer whose integrity, courage, and ability to speak truth to power inspired a generation. Her example reminds me that leadership should be about service, not self-interest.

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

An elected official must lead with integrity, accountability, and transparency. It is critical to listen to constituents, respect diverse perspectives, and make decisions rooted in fairness and equity. Compassion, discipline, and courage to act on tough issues are also essential.

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

The core responsibilities are to represent the voices of the district, create policies that improve lives, and hold government accountable to the people. This means advocating for affordable healthcare, jobs, education, and safety while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy of community empowerment, public health progress, and opportunity for the next generation. If people can say I made their lives healthier, fairer, and more hopeful, then I will have done my job well.

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

I clearly remember the events of September 11, 2001. I was a teenager at the time, and it shaped my understanding of service, resilience, and the importance of leadership during crisis.

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

My very first job was working as a fracking chemist after college. I held that position for less than a year before realizing my true calling was in public health and community service.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois. It shaped my perspective on race, resilience, and the importance of building institutions that uplift communities.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I would choose T’Challa, the Black Panther. He represents strength, vision, and responsibility to both tradition and progress, qualities I believe are vital for leadership.

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

A struggle for me has been hearing the stories of people who are afraid of losing their Medicare or access to healthcare, and feeling that I could not do enough for them at the time. Those moments are difficult, but they motivate me to fight harder for policies that protect people’s health and dignity.

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

The House is closest to the people. Representatives serve smaller districts and shorter terms, which means we are directly accountable to our constituents. That proximity makes the House the people’s chamber and a place where diverse voices can and should be heard.

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

Experience can be helpful, but it is not the only qualification that matters. What matters most is whether someone understands the needs of their community and has the skills to advocate, build partnerships, and deliver results.

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

Our greatest challenges will be addressing healthcare access, rebuilding trust in democratic institutions, preparing workers for a changing economy, and tackling climate change. Mental health and equity in all systems will also be critical to our nation’s long-term success.

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

Yes. Two years ensures accountability to the people. It keeps representatives close to their districts and prevents them from becoming disconnected from the voters they serve.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I strongly believe in term limits. Public service is about representing the people, not holding onto power. If I serve my community well, I should be able to confidently pass the torch to the next generation of leaders who bring fresh ideas and energy.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I admire leaders like Barbara Jordan, who brought integrity, intellect, and courage to Congress. Her ability to fight for justice while staying true to her values is the kind of leadership I hope to model.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

A story that stays with me is from a community member who shared his struggles with mental health and the barriers he faced in seeking care. His honesty reinforced my commitment to expanding access to mental health services and ensuring that no one has to suffer in silence.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. Compromise is necessary to move the country forward in a bipartisan way. It should never mean sacrificing core values, but it does mean finding common ground where possible so that progress can be made for the people we serve.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

This power would allow me to ensure that tax policy is fair and that resources are invested where they are needed most, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure in communities like District 9. Revenue policy should always put people before special interests. When a discussion is being had about District 9, I want to be the first and last person in the room to ensure full support.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

The House should use its investigative powers to protect democracy, hold government and corporations accountable, and uncover wrongdoing that impacts the American people. Investigations must be rooted in facts, transparency, and fairness.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

N/A

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

One story that has stayed with me is from a father in our community who shared his struggle with depression and the barriers he faced in seeking help. His courage in opening up reinforced my commitment to fighting stigma and expanding mental health access.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I am proud of helping create programs that directly addressed health disparities and supported underserved communities, including leading multimillion dollar grants in cancer prevention, infectious disease, and early childhood intervention. These efforts turned research into real, measurable change for families.

What role should the United States government have in the development or use of artificial intelligence?

The government should ensure AI is developed responsibly with safeguards for privacy, fairness, and job protection. AI has the potential to transform healthcare, education, and the economy, but it must not come at the cost of equity or ethics.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in the United States?

I would support legislation that expands early and weekend voting, strengthens mail in ballot protections, and prevents unfair voter roll purges. In Texas, voters in District 9 have faced long lines, limited weekend hours, and confusion over mail ballot ID rules. My priority would be to set fair federal standards that guarantee accessible polling locations, extended early voting, ballot tracking for mail voters, and transparent audits. These reforms would ensure every eligible voter in District 9 and across the nation can cast their ballot freely, securely, and with confidence.

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.

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Earnest Clayton did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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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.

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Earnest Clayton campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2026*	U.S. House Texas District 18	Withdrew primary	$0	N/A**
2026*	U.S. House Texas District 9	Candidacy Declared 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.

See also

2026 Elections

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Government

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Newsletters

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External links

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Candidate

U.S. House Texas District 9

Website

Instagram

Footnotes

[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)