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Shelly deZevallos
Shelly deZevallos (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 38th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.[source]
Biography
DeZevallos obtained a bachelor's degree in political science and Chinese from the University of Texas at Austin, a master's degree in business administration from Texas A&M University, and a doctorate in education with an aviation and space science focus from Oklahoma State University. DeZevallos worked as a regional sales manager for Cessna before joining the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association as a regional representative. As of the 2026 primary, deZevallos had been president of the West Houston Airport for eight years. Both President Donald Trump (R) and Governor Greg Abbott (R) appointed deZevallos to transportation and business-related advisory boards.[1][2]
2026 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the March 3 Republican primary as a battleground primary. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Jon Bonck (R), Barrett McNabb (R), Shelly deZevallos (R), and two other candidates are running in the Republican primary for Texas' 38th Congressional District on March 3, 2026. The filing deadline is December 8, 2025. As of October 2025, Bonck, McNabb, and deZevallos led in fundraising and local media attention.[3]
Incumbent Wesley Hunt (R) is running for U.S. Senate rather than seeking re-election, leaving the seat open. Hunt won re-election in 2024 63%–37%.
Bonck is a manager at a mortgage brokerage firm. Bonck describes himself as "a Christian, husband, father, and mortgage leader from Greater Houston — not a political celebrity, but a servant leader ready to fight for Texas families."[4] Bonck's campaign website says his real estate experience "has shown him firsthand how outdated policies and red tape can frustrate families...Jon will work to reform these outdated policies and eliminate red tape to help Americans thrive and achieve the American dream."[4]
McNabb is a 16-year veteran of the U.S. Army and the founder of a healthcare management group. McNabb's campaign website says he is "not a career politician—he’s a battle-tested leader, a successful businessman, and a servant of the people. He’s running for Congress to advocate for families, Veterans, small businesses, and all Texans who feel overlooked by Washington."[5] McNabb says he will "always put Texas first, streamline politics, and enact swift action on conservative policies."[6]
DeZevallos is the president of the West Houston Airport. DeZevallos' campaign website describes her as "a business leader, pilot, and lifelong Houstonian who has dedicated her life to service, innovation, and advancing our shared America First values."[7] DeZevallos says she is running "because President Trump needs trusted conservative leaders in Congress who will end Democrat obstruction and keep the results coming for the American people."[8]
Also running in the primary are Jeff Yuna (R) and Damien Mockus (R).
As of October 2025, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball each rated the general election Solid/Safe Republican. An Inside Elections analysis of the redistricting in Texas ahead of the 2026 elections found that President Donald Trump (R) won the 2024 presidential election in both the old and the new versions of the 38th district by 21 percentage points.[9]
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, then the top two finishers will advance to a runoff on May 26, 2026.
Elections
2026
See also: Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for U.S. House Texas District 38
William Taggart is running in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 38 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| William Taggart (Independent) | ||
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38
Curtis Cook II, Theresa Courts, Marvalette Hunter, and Melissa McDonough are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 3, 2026.
| ||||
| = 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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Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38
The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Avery Ayers | |
 | Jon Bonck | |
 | Craig Goralski | |
 | Barrett McNabb | |
 | Damien Mockus | |
 | Carmen Montiel | |
 | Michael Pratt | |
 | Jeff Yuna | |
 | 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Wesley Hunt (R)
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from RealClearPolitics, when available. We will regularly check for polling aggregation for this race and add polls here once available. To notify us of polls available for this race, please email us.
Election campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avery Ayers | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Jon Bonck | Republican Party | $492,041 | $111,162 | $380,879 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Craig Goralski | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Barrett McNabb | Republican Party | $228,122 | $120,475 | $107,647 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Damien Mockus | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Carmen Montiel | Republican Party | $5,206 | $3,135 | $2,514 | As of June 30, 2025 |
| Michael Pratt | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Jeff Yuna | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Shelly deZevallos | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
|||||
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[10][11][12]
If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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Campaign website
deZevallos' campaign website stated the following:
TEXAS VALUES. AMERICA FIRST PRIORITIES.
Shelly deZevallos is ready to put her experience to work in Congress for the taxpayers of the 38th District — because President Trump needs trusted conservative leaders in Congress who will end Democrat obstruction and keep the results coming for the American people.
Put America First
President Trump and our America First agenda are under attack — and it will take proven fighters to deliver more victories for the American people. Shelly will lead with her conservative values and never back down to deliver a safer, more prosperous future for Texans.
Unleash Our Economy
President Trump's America First agenda is unleashing economic growth, and Shelly will represent our district to keep the results coming for Texans. She'll work to cut burdensome regulations, reduce taxes, and support the entrepreneurs and small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. As a businesswoman and aviation industry leader, Shelly knows what it takes to succeed — and she'll ensure Texas remains a national leader in innovation and job creation.
Keep Our Families & Community Safe
The Left's soft-on-crime policies have put Texas families in the crosshairs of violent criminals and gangs. Shelly will always back the blue, fully fund law enforcement, and give first responders the resources they need to stop violent crime and keep our communities safe. Every Texan deserves to feel secure in their home, neighborhood, and community — and Shelly will fight to restore the rule of law.
Crush The Cartels & Secure Our Border
President Trump is working to secure our border, but Congress must give him the resources to finish the job. Shelly will help finish the wall, enforce immigration laws, and stop drug cartels and human traffickers from putting Texans at risk. The chaos at the southern border threatens our safety, economy, and future — and Shelly will restore law and order to protect Texas families.
Cut Costs For Texans
Shelly will cut wasteful government spending, reduce the tax burden on families, and eliminate job-killing regulations that drive up prices. As a businesswoman who knows what it takes to make payroll and balance a budget, Shelly will bring that same discipline to Congress and deliver real relief for Texas families.
Lead The Way On Transportation & Infrastructure
As a pilot with over 5,000 hours of flight time and decades of aviation leadership, Shelly understands infrastructure's critical role in America's future. She will champion smart investments in transportation and workforce development in Congress while cutting the red tape that slows progress. Shelly will ensure Texas stays at the forefront of innovation and job growth — because President Trump's America First agenda means putting American infrastructure and American workers first.
Defend Faith, Family & Freedom
Shelly's principles are rooted in her faith, her family, and her commitment to freedom. She will defend life, protect religious liberty, and stand firm against government overreach that threatens our constitutional rights. In Congress, Shelly will preserve the America First conservative values that make Texas strong — because our freedoms are under assault from the radical Left, and we need fighters who won't back down.
Secure American Energy Independence
A strong Texas depends on American energy. Shelly will work to expand oil and gas production, cut regulations that hurt our energy workers, and keep Texas leading the nation in reliable, affordable power. President Trump's energy dominance agenda is lowering costs and creating jobs — and Shelly will ensure Washington stops standing in the way. By strengthening our energy independence, we protect jobs, lower costs, and keep our country secure.
— Shelly deZevallos' campaign website (November 19, 2025)
Campaign ads
Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Shelly deZevallos while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.
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
- ↑ Shelly deZevallos campaign website, "Home page," accessed November 3, 2025
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Shelly Lesikar deZevallos, Ed.D.," accessed November 3, 2025
- ↑ Houston Public Media, "U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt enters GOP Senate primary against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Texas AG Ken Paxton," October 6, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jon Bonck campaign website, "Home page," accessed October 24, 2025
- ↑ Barrett McNabb campaign website, "About," accessed October 24, 2025
- ↑ Barrett McNabb campaign website, "Home page," accessed October 24, 2025
- ↑ Shelly deZevallos campaign website, "About," accessed October 24, 2025
- ↑ Shelly deZevallos campaign website, "Issues," accessed October 24, 2025
- ↑ Inside Elections, "A Detailed Analysis of Texas’ New Congressional Map," August 27, 2025
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
