Offer Vince Shlomi
Offer Vince Shlomi (Republican Party) (also known as Shamwow) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 31st Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.
Biography
Offer Shlomi's career experience includes working in media and advertising.[1]
Texas' 31st Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
- The content below is from the March 3 Republican primary page. Click here to read more.
Twelve-term incumbent John Carter (R) and nine other candidates ran in the Republican primary for Texas' 31st Congressional District on March 3, 2026. President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Carter for re-election on December 4, 2025.[2]
At the time of the election, Carter was the third longest-serving member of the U.S. House, and according to the Austin American-Statesman's John C. Moritz, "Several of his GOP opponents argue that the district, which runs from Georgetown to farm and ranch country west of Waco and includes the sprawling Army post of Fort Hood, is in need of new blood."[3]
Before his election to Congress, Carter worked as an attorney and judge.[4] His campaign website stated, "Judge prides himself on delivering results for Texas’ 31st district no matter the political environment, and does this by following his guiding principle, 'listen more than you speak.'"[5]
William Abel (R) was a U.S. Army veteran making his second run for the seat. Abel said, "I'm just tired of these politicians not doing what's best for the constituents and doing what's best for their own pockets. Or doing what's best for the lobbyists and donors. I just want problems solved with common sense."[3] He told Community Impact his priorities were "Eliminate wasteful spending, decrease taxes, secure the border."[6]
David Berry (R) was a physician whose campaign website described him as "committed to protecting Texans by standing up for small towns, rural communities, and the values that make them strong."[7] According to his campaign website, his priorities included securing the border, growing small businesses, reforming Washington, protecting life, energy independence, and expanding veterans' benefits.[7]
Steve Dowell (R) was a major in the U.S. Army Reserve. His campaign website said, "As the only policy focused and experienced alternative to our incumbent, Steve Dowell will work for you in D.C.—for the second time in his life—following core conservative principles of responsibility, peace through strength, and human dignity that keep America great."[8][9]
Abhiram Garapati (R) was a businessman, farmer, and rancher making his fourth run for the seat.[10] Garapati told Community Impact his priorities if elected would include "cutting wasteful spending, balancing the federal budget, reducing taxes on hard-working Americans, tackling corruption, increasing government transparency, repealing unconstitutional legislation, maintaining a secure border, strengthening national security, protecting American jobs, and delivering exceptional constituent services."[6]
Raymond Hamden was a real estate broker and business ower.[11] His campaign website stated, "As a candidate for U.S. Congress, Raymond Hamden is dedicated to securing our borders, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and supporting military families. He is committed to fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and empowering businesses. Raymond also aims to invest in vital water and infrastructure projects to strengthen communities and create a prosperous future for all."[12]
Elvis Lossa (R) was a U.S. Army veteran and served as policy coordinator for the speaker of the Texas House.[13] His campaign website stated, "Too often, leadership in Congress is focused on noise instead of outcomes. Families, veterans, and small businesses deserve representation that listens carefully and then acts decisively. I am running for Congress to bring experience, accountability, and a results-driven approach to serving Central Texas."[14]
Valentina Gomez Noriega (R) earned a master's degree in business administration from Tulane University and was a former candidate for Missouri Secretary of State.[15] She told Community Impact her priorities if elected would include, "Protect and defend my soldiers at Fort Hood. Kicking all the terrorists muslims, Somalians, and illegals out of Texas. Stopping the construction of Sharia schools and Sharia cities. Increasing Social Security benefits and making medication more affordable for my senior citizens."[6]
Offer Vince Shlomi (R) was best known from the Shamwow infomercials.[16] His campaign website stated, "My mission is simple will be a stronger economy and real opportunities for the Texas 31st and for all America. I believe that by putting God first and standing firm with our values, we can build a more perfect union for our families and for all America."[17]
Ballotpedia did not find additional information for Ed Ewald (R).
Elections
2026
See also: Texas' 31st Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on April 11, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House Texas District 31
Incumbent John Carter (R) and Justin Early (D) are running in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 31 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | John Carter (R) | |
 | Justin Early (D) | |
| ||||
 = 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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Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 31
Justin Early (D) defeated Stuart Whitlow (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 31 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Justin Early | 57.6 | 31,852 |
 | Stuart Whitlow | 42.4 | 23,455 | |
| Total votes: 55,307 | |||
| = 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
- Caitlin Rourk (D)
- Brian Trautner (D)
Republican primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 31
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 31 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Carter | 59.7 | 40,390 |
 | Valentina Gomez Noriega | 10.2 | 6,905 | |
 | Abhiram Garapati | 6.6 | 4,456 | |
 | Raymond Hamden | 6.4 | 4,346 | |
 | Steven Dowell | 6.2 | 4,200 | |
 | Offer Vince Shlomi | 4.1 | 2,791 | |
 | William Abel | 2.6 | 1,764 | |
 | David Berry | 2.4 | 1,623 | |
| Ed Ewald | 1.1 | 727 | ||
 | Elvis Lossa | 0.7 | 497 | |
| Total votes: 67,699 | |||
| = 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
- Jack McConnell (R)
- Mike Williams (R)
Green Party convention
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Green convention for U.S. House Texas District 31
Greg Stoker (G) is running in the Green Party convention for U.S. House Texas District 31 on April 11, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Greg Stoker | |
| ||||
| = 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
Offer Vince Shlomi did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Shlomi's campaign website stated the following:
Woke Buster Big Tech
Parental Class View
I will put video monitoring systems in all classrooms from kindergarten to 5th grade. This allows parents handing their child off to a stranger at school to see & hear what they are learning about. This keeps kids pure & keeps them from being indoctrinated with sexual & woke absurd ideologies.
End XXX on X
Pornography is not speech and has no freedom of speech. X should not be in the pornography business. The normalization of porn fixates young people & children on sex instead of focusing on academics, friends, sports, family, and God.
Healthy Screen Act
Children 12 & under shall only be shown content that teaches them healthy entertainment, life skills, problem solving, real activities & values that involve friends, family country & God.
We’re going to make fewer blue haired communists and more Red Blooded Americans!Human Customer Service Now
If you want to call Big Tech for a problem, there’s never any live customer service personnel. They direct you to fill out online forms and submissions that send you on a wild goose chase. If big tech wants a monopoly, they should face the public by replacing AI support with real life Americans.
The Thoughtism Bill
Thoughtism is a word I coined that means "hating someone on the basis of their views or thoughts." Similar to racism, where they hate you for the color of your skin. Crimes or illegal actions directed at conservatives & liberals will be elevated to a hate crime when the illegal act or crime is motivated by “Thoughtism”
— Offer Vince Shlomi's campaign website (January 16, 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 31 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Offer Vince "Shamwow" Shlmoi, "About Vince," accessed January 16, 2026
- ↑ KDH News, "John Carter gets President Trump’s endorsement," December 5, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Austin American-Statesman, "Why U.S. Rep. John Carter has so many GOP opponents in his race for a 13th term," January 20, 2026
- ↑ Biographical Guide of the United States Congress, "CARTER, John R.," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ John Carter 2026 campaign website, "Meet John," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Community Impact, "Q&A: Hear from the Republican candidates running for US House District 31," January 30, 2026
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 David Berry 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ Linkedin, "Steve Dowell," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ Steve Dowell 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ Abhiram Garapati 2026 campaign website, "About Abhiram Garapati," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ KDH News, "Harker Heights businessman Raymond Hamden to seek District 31 seat in Congress," March 15, 2025
- ↑ Raymond Hamden 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ Elvis Lossa 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ Elvis Lossa 2026 campaign website, "Meet Elvis Lossa," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ Valentina Gomez 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ Fox 7, "Offer Vince Shlomi, the 'ShamWow' guy, releases campaign ad for Texas Congressional seat," February 6, 2026
- ↑ Offer Shlomi 2026 campaign website, "About Vince," accessed February 9, 2026
