Marvalette Hunter
Marvalette Hunter (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 38th Congressional District. She lost in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.
Biography
Marvalette Hunter earned a graduate degree in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University and a bachelor's in architecture from Florida A&M University. Her career experience includes serving as a congressional and mayoral chief of staff, a housing authority executive, a banking executive, and a real estate developer.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2026
Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)
Texas' 38th 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 38
Melissa McDonough and William Taggart are running in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 38 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Melissa McDonough (D)  | |
 | William Taggart (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 38
Jon Bonck and Shelly deZevallos are running in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 38 on May 26, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Jon Bonck | |
 | Shelly deZevallos | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38
Melissa McDonough defeated Marvalette Hunter and Theresa Courts in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa McDonough | 51.6 | 26,998 |
 | Marvalette Hunter | 28.3 | 14,791 | |
 | Theresa Courts | 20.1 | 10,497 | |
| Total votes: 52,286 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Curtis Cook II (D)
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 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jon Bonck | 47.7 | 24,288 |
| ✔ | | Shelly deZevallos | 18.6 | 9,473 |
 | Michael Pratt | 10.9 | 5,569 | |
 | Larry Rubin | 6.7 | 3,391 | |
 | Barrett McNabb | 6.2 | 3,151 | |
 | Jeff Yuna | 2.3 | 1,172 | |
 | Jennifer Sundt | 2.3 | 1,168 | |
 | Carmen Montiel | 2.2 | 1,140 | |
 | Craig Goralski | 1.5 | 774 | |
 | Avery Ayers | 1.5 | 759 | |
| Total votes: 50,885 | |||
| = 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
- Damien Mockus (R)
- Wesley Hunt (R)
Green convention
Green convention for U.S. House Texas District 38
Alex McMenemy is running in the Green convention for U.S. House Texas District 38 on April 11, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Alex McMenemy (G) | |
| ||||
| = 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
Hunter received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- U.S. Rep Sylvia Garcia (D)
- State Rep Jon Rosenthal (D)
- Texas AFL-CIO
- Asian American Democrats of Texas
- Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Marvalette Hunter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Hunter's campaign website stated the following:
Good Jobs
Building Pathways to Opportunity
At a glance:
- Grow local businesses and support entrepreneurs
- Invest in workforce training and job readiness
- Ensure fair wages and worker protections
- Modernize infrastructure to spark growth
The details:
A good job means more than a paycheck—it means stability, dignity, and a future. Too many families are working harder than ever but still struggling to make ends meet. We can do better.
We’ll invest in small businesses, expand access to capital, and cut red tape so local employers can grow and hire. We’ll partner with community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and trade schools to prepare workers for careers in healthcare, clean energy, technology, and skilled trades. And we’ll fight for wages and protections that match the rising cost of living.
By modernizing our infrastructure—roads, transit, broadband—we’ll not only create jobs now but also lay the foundation for long-term economic growth.
Healthy Families
Putting People First
At a glance:
- Affordable healthcare, including mental health
- Strong schools from early childhood through college
- Paid family leave and childcare support
- Affordable housing and housing stabiity
The details:
Families are the heart of our community—but they’re stretched thin. Healthcare costs are rising. Schools need more support. Childcare and housing are out of reach for too many.
We’ll expand access to affordable healthcare and ensure every family has access to mental health and addiction treatment. We’ll strengthen public schools with resources and opportunities from pre-K through higher education. We’ll fight for paid family leave and affordable childcare so parents can focus on their families without sacrificing their income.
And we’ll prioritize affordable housing and stability, so families don’t have to live with the fear of losing their home.
Healthy families make strong communities.
Safe Streets
Communities We Can Trust
At a glance:
- Build trust through community-based policing
- Invest in prevention and youth opportunity
- Address root causes of crime
- Improve neighborhood safety and public spaces
The details:
Safety is a right—not a privilege. Every resident should feel safe at home, at work, and in their neighborhood.
That means building trust between law enforcement and communities with accountability, transparency, and true partnership. It means preventing crime by investing in after-school programs, youth opportunities, and job training. It means addressing the root causes of crime—poverty, addiction, lack of opportunity—through support and rehabilitation.
And it means investing in our neighborhoods with flood mitigation, better streets, better lighting, safer crosswalks, and vibrant public spaces that bring people together.
True safety doesn’t come from fear. It comes from strong, connected communities.
— Marvalette Hunter'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
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Candidate U.S. House Texas District 38 |
Personal |
Footnotes
