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Gion Thomas
Gion Thomas (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 38th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024.
Thomas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Gion Thomas was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University in 2019. His career experience includes working as a nonprofit executive director. He previously worked at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church for 16 years. As of December 2023, Thomas was the vice president of the Katy Area Democrats.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2024
Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)
Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 38
Incumbent Wesley Hunt defeated Melissa McDonough and Avery Ayers in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 38 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Wesley Hunt (R) | 62.7 | 215,030 |
 | Melissa McDonough (D)  | 37.2 | 127,640 | |
 | Avery Ayers (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 94 | |
| Total votes: 342,764 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Chad Abbey (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38
Melissa McDonough defeated Gion Thomas in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa McDonough | 82.5 | 18,486 |
 | Gion Thomas | 17.5 | 3,910 | |
| Total votes: 22,396 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Cameron Campbell (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38
Incumbent Wesley Hunt advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Wesley Hunt | 100.0 | 62,340 |
| Total votes: 62,340 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 38
Chad Abbey advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 16, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ |  | Chad Abbey (L) |
| ||||
| = 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 did not identify endorsements for Thomas in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gion Thomas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Thomas' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Forced to rebuild their lives in Houston, Gion, along with family, learned a second valuable lesson about the importance of community and kindness. After graduating from Katy High School, Gion first pursued a career in football, including stints playing semi-pro for the Houston Lobos and Katy Flyers. Eventually he went on to graduate from Texas Southern University. Motivated to give back to his adopted home of Katy, Gion dedicated his life to helping young people make an impact through voting and becoming politically active. His passion for community engagement and activism launched him on a journey defined by a diverse range of experiences that reflect his commitment to driving positive change.
During the COVID global pandemic, Gion stepped up his community-based activities by working to provide clothing and distribute food to the unhoused, disseminating vital information on COVID and health-related matters, and driving voter registration initiatives. Gion’s commitment to fostering collaboration among different groups of people underscores his vision of creating a more engaged and empowered society.
- Universal healthcare: We must fight to protect and expand healthcare programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, while moving closer to a universal healthcare system. Healthcare must be a fundamental right for every American, regardless of their economic status, and not a privilege for the wealthy or powerful. Every single person should have the ability to get the healthcare they deserve as an American.
- We deserve a living wage! Every hard-working American should earn an income that allows them, not just to survive, but to thrive. No one who works full-time should have to live paycheck to paycheck. Together, we can build an economy where everyone has the opportunity to earn a living wage, providing financial security and a brighter future for working-class families. This is our commitment to a fair and prosperous society.
- Green new jobs! The Houston area knows all too well the harsh realities of climate change. We've experienced the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey and the Houston Tax Day Flood, where approximately 240 billion gallons of rainwater inundated Harris County. We are committed to addressing these challenges head-on. We can't ignore the fact we just endured the hottest summer on record. For weeks, we experienced scorching days with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Scientists warn this is just the beginning, and it will only get worse. The environmental crisis is not just an issue for our generation; it's our responsibility to ensure that our children and grandchildren inherit a clean and habitable Earth.
confidence
Empathy
Constituent Services
Advocacy
Community Engagement
Communication
Collaboration
Budget Oversight
American Youth 4 Climate Action & Sustainability
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.
Campaign website
Thomas’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Healthcare is a human right. Lowering drug costs: We will work tirelessly to fight the pharmaceutical industry and lower drug costs. No life-saving medication should cost a person their livelihood. Prescription drugs must be affordable for all, regardless of income. Increased accessibility: We are dedicated to making healthcare more accessible to all by advocating for an increase in the number of doctors and healthcare practitioners available to our community. Additionally, we will work on lowering out-of-pocket costs to ensure medical debt does not destroy the lives of working-class families. We deserve a living wage! Raising the minimum wage to $20 per hour: The current federal minimum wage is just $7.25 per hour. The minimum wage hasn’t been increased since 2009! With record corporate profits must include record wages. We will push for a substantial increase in the federal minimum wage to $20 per hour and index it with inflation. This will enable individuals and families to live comfortably and reduce the stress of financial insecurity even in tough economic times Supporting small businesses: Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. We will work closely with them to ensure they have the support and resources needed to pay their employees fairly, access credit and loans when needed, and streamline bureaucracy and red tape. West Houston needs profitable small business to thrive. Fair compensation for essential workers: Essential workers, like teachers, nurses, firefighters and police officers, deserve to be paid fairly for their invaluable contributions. We will collaborate with cities and school districts to secure the funding necessary to ensure our hardworking essential workers receive the compensation they rightly deserve. Green new jobs! We are committed to addressing these challenges head-on. We can't ignore the fact we just endured the hottest summer on record. For weeks, we experienced scorching days with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Scientists warn this is just the beginning, and it will only get worse. The environmental crisis is not just an issue for our generation; it's our responsibility to ensure that our children and grandchildren inherit a clean and habitable Earth. To mitigate climate change and secure a sustainable future, we need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. It's a transition that can be made without costing a single person their job. We're committed to providing comprehensive training for workers in the oil industry as we shift to new positions in renewable energy, without sacrificing our livelihoods. The proliferation of wind turbines across the country is a step in the right direction, but we must go further. Our primary focus should be harnessing the power of solar and wind energy. By making this transition, we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote a more sustainable future for all. Remove corporate money from politics. Campaign finance reform: Support significantly limiting campaign contributions from corporations and wealthy individuals, ensuring elections are about people, not dollars. Transparency: Advocate for full transparency in political donations, so voters know who is financing campaigns and can make informed choices. Overturning Citizens United: Work to overturn the Citizens United decision to restore the integrity of our elections and limit the outside influence of corporations on the political process. Strengthening labor unions and workers. Empower workers: Support legislation that makes it easier for workers to join and form unions, ensuring they have a strong voice in negotiations and workplace decisions. Worker protections: Fight for robust workplace safety regulations and workers compensation programs to protect employees from harm on the job. Education equity. We are committed to ensuring every school and district receives the funding they need. This is especially crucial for those in lower-income areas. Our focus should be on uplifting schools that lack the necessary resources, rather than reinforcing already privileged districts. Early education for all: Every child should have access to high-quality preschool. This early foundation is a critical building block for their future. We must incorporate this into our education system, as many other nations have, recognizing most learning occurs in the first five years of life. Universal free college and trade schools: We believe higher education should be within reach for everyone. That's why we’re committed to making two-year and four-year programs at community colleges, state colleges, and trade schools free for all who seek to further their education. Our goal is to eliminate the burden of student debt and provide young adults, as well as parents supporting their children's education, with the opportunity to start their lives without the shackles of financial constraints. Legalize marijuana. Health benefits: Marijuana offers a range of physical and mental health benefits. It can alleviate the pain of injuries and provide relief from anxiety and stress. By legalizing it, we can ensure safe access to these potential health advantages. Equity and justice: The criminalization of marijuana has disproportionately impacted low-income and minority communities through the criminal justice system. This not only robs taxpayers of their money but also hinders the lives of those with misdemeanor charges. It's time to right this wrong and give people a fair chance at building a better future. Economic Opportunities: The marijuana industry presents significant economic potential. Revenue generated can fund crucial projects such as infrastructure improvements, increased teacher salaries, and more. In a struggling economy, where resources often go to places they shouldn't, the additional income from the marijuana industry can be a lifeline for our community.[2] |
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| —Gion Thomas's campaign website (2024)[3] | ||
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
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on November 27, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Gion C. Thomas for U.S. Congress TX-CD 38, “Working Class Priorities,” accessed January 12, 2024
