Esther Fleharty
Esther Fleharty (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 37th Congressional District. She lost in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.
Biography
Esther Fleharty's career experience includes working in epidemiology and the technology sector.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Texas' 37th Congressional District election, 2026
Texas' 37th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)
Texas' 37th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
Texas' 37th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 26 Republican primary runoff)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
The primary runoff will occur on May 26, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary runoff.
General election for U.S. House Texas District 37
Incumbent Greg Casar and James Kinney are running in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 37 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Greg Casar (D) | |
| James Kinney (Independent) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 37
Ge'Nell Gary and Lauren Peña are running in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 37 on May 26, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Ge'Nell Gary | |
 | Lauren Peña | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 37
Incumbent Greg Casar defeated Esther Fleharty in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 37 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Greg Casar | 80.7 | 105,715 |
 | Esther Fleharty | 19.3 | 25,208 | |
| Total votes: 130,923 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Dillon Fleharty (D)
- Soren Pendragon (D)
- Lloyd Doggett (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 37
Ge'Nell Gary and Lauren Peña advanced to a runoff. They defeated Janet Malzahn in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 37 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ge'Nell Gary | 35.3 | 5,370 |
| ✔ | | Lauren Peña | 35.0 | 5,316 |
 | Janet Malzahn | 29.7 | 4,521 | |
| Total votes: 15,207 | |||
| = 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
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Esther Fleharty did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Fleharty's campaign website stated the following:
ECONOMIC FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY
Every family deserves a fair shot at building a secure future. That means lowering costs, protecting workers, and ensuring our economy works for everyone — not just the wealthy and well-connected.
Build a Strong Border Economy
- End harmful tariffs and wasteful border militarization that divide communities and drive up prices.
- A strong border economy depends on fair commerce, not fear.
Lower Costs for Families
- Expand assistance programs for utilities, internet, and health premiums so families don’t have to choose between basic needs.
Protect Workers’ Rights
- Defend the right to organize and pass pro-worker legislation like the PRO Act, so every worker has a voice at the table.
Update Rules for New Technologies
- Create a clear regulatory framework for blockchain and emerging technologies that protects consumers, fosters innovation, and provides certainty for American businesses.
Support Businesses and Immigrant Workers
- Cut visa backlogs and processing delays so U.S. businesses can thrive. Ensure immigrant workers are protected by labor laws and can report abuse without fear of retaliation.
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Harm Reduction and Common-Sense Exceptions
- Immediately pass bipartisan-supported legislation that provides exemptions in cases where a woman’s life is in danger, or when pregnancy results from sexual assault, rape, or incest.
- Ensure medical professionals have the legal clarity and protection to provide emergency care without fear of prosecution.
Federal Protections for Interstate Care
- Guarantee federal protections for anyone who travels out of state to receive reproductive health care.
- Protect patients and providers from legal retaliation across state lines.
Codify Roe v. Wade into Federal Law
- Establish federal statutory protections for reproductive freedom so that access to care does not depend on a person’s zip code or state legislature.
Access to Medication and Contraception
- Protect and expand access to FDA-approved medication abortion and contraception.
- Ensure insurance plans cover birth control and reproductive care without burdensome restrictions.
Protect Providers and Patients
- Strengthen federal safeguards for doctors, nurses, and clinics who provide reproductive care.
- Prevent harassment, intimidation, or violence against patients and medical staff.
Equity in Reproductive Health
- Address disparities in access for rural communities, low-income families, and communities of color.
- Expand funding for reproductive health clinics and telehealth services nationwide.
AI GOVERNANCE: PROTECTING FAMILIES AND WORKER
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how we live and work. It can drive innovation and economic growth, but without strong guardrails it can also put children, families, and workers at risk. Esther believes AI must be governed with common-sense protections that put people first.
She will fight for:
- Child Safety Online – Banning exploitative use of AI chatbots that target or manipulate kids and ensuring AI-driven platforms cannot misuse children’s personal data.
- Deepfake Safeguards – Requiring clear labeling of AI-generated images, videos, and voices to prevent fraud, harassment, and misinformation.
- Protecting Workers’ Rights – Establishing rules to prevent AI from being used to exploit labor, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and protecting jobs from unfair displacement.
- Data Privacy Protections – Guaranteeing families and workers have control over their data and that it cannot be harvested or sold without consent.
- Responsible Innovation – Supporting transparent, ethical AI development that prioritizes accountability and fairness while encouraging U.S. leadership in safe, trusted technologies.
AI should strengthen our communities, safeguard our children, and respect the dignity of work. Esther will fight to make sure technology serves people, not the other way around.
MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS
Expand Affordable Access to Care
- Increase funding for community clinics, school-based programs, and telehealth so every family, urban or rural, can access timely mental health support.
End the Trial-and-Error Approach to Treatment
- Promote insurance coverage for genetic testing that helps identify which medications work best for each patient, reducing harmful guesswork and improving outcomes.
Integrate Mental Health Into Primary Care
- Require parity between mental and physical health services so mental health checkups are treated as essential care, not optional extras.
Support the Workforce
- Expand training, recruitment, and loan forgiveness programs for mental health professionals to meet growing demand.
Early Intervention and Youth Services
- Invest in prevention and early intervention programs in schools and community centers to support young people before crises escalate.
STOPPING TRUMP AND ABBOTT CHAOS POLICIES
Protect Democracy and the Rule of Law
- Oppose reckless policies that undermine our democratic institutions, target communities, and erode trust in government.
Stop Political Stunts at the Border
- Reject wasteful border militarization that drives up costs, divides communities, and fails to make us safer.
- Advocate for smart, humane immigration policies that keep families together and strengthen our economy.
Defend Our Freedoms
- Push back against extremist attempts to roll back reproductive rights, restrict voting access, and silence dissent.
Put People Over Politics
- Prioritize practical solutions that lower costs, protect health care, and strengthen local communities instead of chaos-driven political theater.
GUN GUARDRAILS
Universal Background Checks
- Close loopholes and require background checks on all gun sales to keep firearms out of dangerous hands.
Red Flag Protections
- Support laws that allow families and law enforcement to temporarily remove guns from individuals who pose a clear risk to themselves or others.
Safe Storage and Accountability
- Promote safe storage requirements to protect children and prevent stolen guns from fueling crime.
Ban Weapons of War
- Keep weapons of war like assault rifles off our streets—they belong in combat zones, not classrooms and neighborhoods.
Invest in Community Safety
- Fund violence prevention programs, mental health services, and local law enforcement resources that stop tragedies before they happen.
PROTECT WORKER RIGHTS
Defend the Right to Organize
- Strengthen and pass legislation like the PRO Act to ensure workers can form unions and collectively bargain in the face of corporate union-busting.
Fair Wages in the Age of AI
- Guarantee that automation and artificial intelligence enhance productivity without eroding wages, benefits, or job security. Workers should share in the gains, not be replaced by machines.
Set Guardrails on AI in the Workplace
- Establish clear rules to prevent AI from being used for exploitative surveillance, biased hiring practices, or unsafe working conditions.
Support Worker Training and Transition
- Expand federal programs for skills training, apprenticeships, and lifelong learning so workers can adapt and thrive as technology evolves.
Equal Protections for All Workers
- Ensure gig workers, contractors, and immigrant workers are covered by labor laws and protected from abuse in a changing economy.
ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY
Protecting our environment is about more than today, it’s about safeguarding the health, safety, and prosperity of future generations. Projections show that without bold action, Central Texas will face rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, and worsening air quality. These challenges threaten our economy, public health, and way of life. By investing in renewable energy, modernizing infrastructure, and supporting sustainable development, we can not only curb harmful emissions but also create good-paying jobs and ensure clean air and water for every family. Our vision is clear: a resilient, sustainable future where growth and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
— Esther Fleharty's campaign website (February 17, 2026)
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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
