Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026
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← 2024
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| Texas' 21st Congressional District |
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| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: December 8, 2025 |
| Primary: March 3, 2026 Primary runoff: May 26, 2026 General: November 3, 2026 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times:
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Race ratings |
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| See also |
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All U.S. House districts, including the 21st Congressional District of Texas, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. The primary was March 3, 2026, and a primary runoff is May 26, 2026. The filing deadline was December 8, 2025.
This is one of 51 open races for the U.S. House of Representatives this year in which an incumbent is not running for re-election. Across the country, 21 Democrats and 30 Republicans are not running for re-election. In 2024, 45 incumbents — 24 Democrats and 21 Republicans — did not seek re-election.
For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:
- Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)
- Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
Candidates and election results
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House Texas District 21
Kristin Hook, Mark Teixeira, and Dan McQueen are running in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 21 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Kristin Hook (D)  | |
 | Mark Teixeira (R) | |
 | Dan McQueen (Independent) | |
| ||||
| = 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 21
Kristin Hook defeated Regina Vanburg and Gary Taylor in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristin Hook | 60.4 | 35,413 |
 | Regina Vanburg | 27.7 | 16,261 | |
 | Gary Taylor | 11.9 | 6,963 | |
| Total votes: 58,637 | |||
| = 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
- Daniel Weber (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Teixeira | 62.6 | 52,280 |
 | Jason Cahill | 9.9 | 8,245 | |
 | Trey Trainor | 8.3 | 6,976 | |
 | Mike Wheeler | 7.0 | 5,888 | |
 | Weston Martinez | 2.1 | 1,758 | |
 | Daniel Betts | 1.9 | 1,550 | |
 | Kyle Sinclair (Unofficially withdrew) | 1.7 | 1,394 | |
 | Peggy Wardlaw | 1.6 | 1,373 | |
 | Heather Tessmer | 1.5 | 1,244 | |
 | Paul Rojas | 1.4 | 1,179 | |
 | Ezekiel Enriquez | 1.3 | 1,088 | |
 | Jacques DuBose | 0.7 | 571 | |
| Total votes: 83,546 | |||
| = 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
- Denis Goulet (R)
- Jessica Karlsruher (R)
- Chip Roy (R)
- Matt Okerson (R)
March 3 Republican Primary
Ballotpedia identified the March 3, 2026, Republican primary as a battleground primary. For more on the Republican primary, click here. For more on the Democratic primary, click here.
Mark Teixeira (R) defeated Jason Cahill (R), Trey Trainor (R) and nine other candidates in the Republican primary for Texas' 21st Congressional District on March 3, 2026. Teixeira and Trainor led in media attention and endorsements.
Incumbent Chip Roy (R) ran in the Republican primary for Texas Attorney General in 2026. For a list of U.S. Representatives who are not running for re-election in 2026, click here. The last time this district was open was 2018, when Roy was first elected.
According to Marijke Friedman of The Texas Tribune, "Both Roy and [President Donald] Trump won handily in the 21st District in 2024, and the seat remained solidly Republican under the new congressional map approved by the Texas Legislature."[1] As of October 2025, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball each rated the general election Safe/Solid Republican.
Teixeira was a former professional baseball player and World Series champion at the time of the election.[2][3] Teixeira said he would support the military, end American involvement in long-term conflicts, and prioritize American interests to "champion President Trump’s America First agenda."[4] Teixeira said he would support law enforcement and border security to promote local and national safety.[4] He said he would cut federal spending and promote Texas’ oil, gas, and nuclear industries to improve the economy.[4] Teixeira also said he would "restore patriotic education rooted in American and Texas values."[4] Trump, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) endorsed Teixeira.[5]
At the time of the election, Trainor was a lawyer who previously worked as general counsel for the Texas Secretary of State and the Republican Party of Texas.[6] He also served as a commissioner on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from 2020 to 2025.[7] Trainor said his legislative priorities would be improving border security, reducing federal spending, and upholding Constitutional rights.[6] Trainor campaigned on his legal experience, saying he had "been on the front lines defending the Constitution" throughout his career.[6] He also campaigned on his experience on the FEC, saying he had a history of promoting election security.[6] Highlighting Trump appointing him to the FEC, Trainor said he supported Trump’s policies and described himself as a "soldier of the conservative cause and the America First agenda."[6] Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian (R) and former chair of the Republican Party of Texas Cathie Adams (R) endorsed Trainor.[8]
Also running in the primary were Daniel Betts (R), Cahill, Jacques DuBose (R), Ezekiel Enriquez (R), Denis Goulet (R), Weston Martinez (R), Matt Okerson (R), Paul Rojas (R), Heather Tessmer (R), Peggy Wardlaw (R), and Mike Wheeler (R).
Texas conducted redistricting between the 2024 and 2026 elections. As a result, district lines in this state changed. To review how redistricting took place in Texas, click here. For a list of all states that drew new district lines between 2024 and 2026, click here.
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Submitted Biography: "I am a Christian, a husband, and a father, and I have lived in Central Texas for almost two decades, having come here for law school in 2007. I practice criminal defense and regularly fight David vs. Goliath fights against government overreach, experience that will be invaluable in Washington. My wife Piper and I are homeschooling our three boys at our home in Dripping Springs, and we have a passel of animals we take care of as well including our potbelly pig Winston, our three cats, and a frog. I am an amateur botanist and an avid gardener with two greenhouses full of plants and cactuses. I am active in my church and have been the lay president for the past three years. In my spare time I hunt on my property, play the saxophone, and enjoy board games. Before I was a lawyer I got my degree in Chemistry from the University of Chicago, and I intend to apply that expertise to enacting effective methods of keeping poisons like methamphetamine and fentanyl out of our schools and communities."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 21 in 2026.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Submitted Biography: "Chief Executive Officer with 20 years of experience leading, coordinating, and overseeing oil and gas exploration and production. Held senior leadership positions in the U.S. Intelligence Community as an Intelligence Analyst overseeing numerous other Intelligence professionals for the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense (DoD), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 21 in 2026.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Submitted Biography: "Zeke Enriquez is a third generation Texan, born and raised in San Marcos. Zeke joined the Marine Corps and served as an 0331 (Heavy Machine Gunner). During a tour to Iraq, Zeke was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with V-Device for combat valor. Zeke has been a volunteer firefighter for 10 years, serving with Klein Fire Department and Bandera Fire. Zeke married his college sweetheart, Lisa, in 2010. They have two children who they homeschool through the Abeka Academy curriculum. Both children participate in 4H activities including shooting sports, veterinary science, and raising swine. Zeke lives just south of the Cowboy Capital of the World (Bandera, TX) on his ranch where he raises a multitude of livestock. Zeke and Lisa are both active in their church ministries. Lisa teaches the pre-teen Sunday school class, and Zeke serves on the church safety, media, and arena teams. Zeke also served as a precinct chair in Harris County. Service is in Zeke's blood, and he stands ready to serve TX-21 in this next capacity."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 21 in 2026.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Submitted Biography: "I’m Paul Rojas, an engineer, small-business owner, and lifelong Texan running to represent Texas’ 21st District. I’m one of the youngest candidates in the race and the only one who’s actually built something outside of politics. I grew up watching how hard-working people get left behind while insiders in Washington look out for each other. Through my company, Alamo Brass, I’ve seen how red tape, bad trade deals, and unchecked bureaucracy crush local businesses. I’ve also worked in technology with companies like Microsoft and Cisco — so I know how innovation can lift communities when government gets out of the way. I’m running because Texas deserves leaders who understand real work, real families, and real accountability — not polished talking points or political dynasties."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 21 in 2026.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Teixeira received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He was previously a professional baseball player and World Series champion, having played with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and New York Yankees.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 21 in 2026.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 21 in 2026.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Submitted Biography: "I’m Mike Wheeler, 58, living in Boerne, Texas, with my wife Annabel. We’ve been married for 32 years and have two sons, ages 24 and 23. I earned a Bachelor’s in Accountancy from George Washington University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Michigan. For over two decades, I bought and sold the debt of high-risk corporations and governments, eventually running high-yield bond trading desks at Morgan Stanley and Bank of America. It was this extensive financial experience that led President Trump to appoint me as a Senior Advisor to the Small Business Administration (SBA). I’ve been deeply involved in the grassroots of the Republican Party here in Texas, serving as a delegate, a precinct chair, the Kendall County Republican Party Chair, and as a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, which is effectively the board of directors for the Republican Party of Texas. After Chip Roy announced his candidacy for Attorney General in 2025, I decided to run for Congressional District 21 because I understand, from my years in the debt markets, the critical nature of addressing our national debt. I’m a solutions-oriented candidate with practical ideas to reduce our dependency on Chinese supply chains, ensure affordability, and safeguard Social Security. In short, I’m running for Congress because my background gives me a clear understanding of the fiscal challenges we face and the urgency with which we must address them through responsible, solution-driven leadership."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 21 in 2026.
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Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Submitted Biography: "I’m Dr. Kristin Hook – a scientist, public servant, and working-class Democrat running to serve Texas’ 21st Congressional District. I’m running to fight for affordability, expand opportunity, and demand accountability for working Texans. As a former middle school teacher with a PhD in animal behavior, I’m well prepared to handle Congress. Before running for office, I served the public in both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. At the U.S. Government Accountability Office, I protected your hard-earned tax dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse and advised Congress on emerging technologies like AI. At the National Institutes of Health, I worked to expand access to health care for all. And in the U.S. Senate, I fought corruption and held powerful politicians and corporate CEOs accountable as an oversight investigator. As a scientist, I’m trained to solve tough problems using facts – not ideology. That’s the approach we need to fix our broken health care system, strengthen public schools, and unrig an economy that isn't working for everyday Texans. I know how to pull the levers of government so it works for us — not against us. In 2024, I was the Democratic nominee for this seat and saw how many people were left behind by a lack of real leadership. I’m running again to be the leader our community deserves – one who shows up, listens, and delivers real results through strong constituent services."
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Teixeira received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He was previously a professional baseball player and World Series champion, having played with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and New York Yankees.
Show sources
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Texas
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
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.
| Collapse all
Kristin Hook (D)
EVERYONE DESERVES A FAIR SHOT: I’m an unlikely scientist. I was raised by a single mom who never had the chance to go to college. Thanks to taxpayers like you, I did. Pell Grants and a National Science Foundation award helped me earn two degrees at UT-Austin and a PhD at Cornell. I chose a career in public service to give back – as a middle school teacher in an underserved community and as a federal scientist. Over the past year, these doors of opportunity have been slammed shut, and too many Texans have seen their rights rolled back. In Congress, I’ll fight to repair what’s broken, strengthen public schools, expand training programs, protect civil and reproductive rights and safeguard our environment for a healthy, liveable future.
I’VE HELD POWERFUL INTERESTS ACCOUNTABLE – AND I’LL DO IT AGAIN: As a former federal scientist, I know government can be a force for good – not a weapon of oppression. I’ve protected taxpayer dollars at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, stood up for federal workers as an elected union leader, and held the Trump administration and corporate CEOs accountable as an oversight investigator in the Senate. In Congress, I’ll keep fighting corruption and the abuse of power and will use oversight, subpoenas, and the power of the purse to enforce the law, defend our democracy, and make sure our government works for we the people — not billionaires or special interests.
Kristin Hook (D)
Kristin Hook (D)
San Antonio Central Labor Council Austin Central Labor Council Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative in TX-20 Bexar County Young Democrats John Courage, Former San Antonio City Council Member Tejano Democrats, Bexar County SD-19 Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio Liberal Austin Democrats
The Progressive Voter Network
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kristin Hook | Democratic Party | $100,801 | $28,308 | $76,849 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Gary Taylor | Democratic Party | $16,487 | $12,592 | $3,895 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Regina Vanburg | Democratic Party | $11,872 | $9,416 | $2,293 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Daniel Betts | Republican Party | $170,920 | $84,775 | $86,145 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Jason Cahill | Republican Party | $348,702 | $291,977 | $56,725 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Jacques DuBose | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Ezekiel Enriquez | Republican Party | $104,653 | $100,595 | $-314 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Weston Martinez | Republican Party | $19,907 | $14,126 | $5,780 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Paul Rojas | Republican Party | $165,026 | $8,165 | $156,862 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Kyle Sinclair | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Mark Teixeira | Republican Party | $3,466,723 | $2,459,293 | $1,007,430 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Heather Tessmer | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Trey Trainor | Republican Party | $139,666 | $63,349 | $76,317 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Peggy Wardlaw | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Mike Wheeler | Republican Party | $345,601 | $262,247 | $83,354 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Dan McQueen | Independent | $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." |
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General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[9]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[10][11][12]
| Race ratings: Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| 3/3/2026 | 2/24/2026 | 2/17/2026 | 2/10/2026 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Decision Desk HQ and The Hill | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. | |||||||||
Ballot access
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Texas in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Texas | U.S. House | Democratic or Republican | 2% of votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less | $3,125 | 12/8/2025 | Source |
| Texas | U.S. House | Unaffiliated | 5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less | N/A | 12/8/2025 | Source |
District history
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.
General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 21
Incumbent Chip Roy (R) defeated Kristin Hook (D) and Bob King (L) in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 21 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Chip Roy (R) | 61.9 | 263,744 |
| | Kristin Hook (D) | 36.1 | 153,765 | |
 | Bob King (L) | 2.1 | 8,914 | |
| Total votes: 426,423 | |||
| = 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
- Dan McQueen (Independent)
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21
Kristin Hook (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristin Hook | 100.0 | 28,579 |
| Total votes: 28,579 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21
Incumbent Chip Roy (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chip Roy | 100.0 | 96,610 |
| Total votes: 96,610 | |||
| = 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 Party convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 21
Bob King (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 23, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Bob King |
| ||||
| = 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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General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 21
Incumbent Chip Roy (R) defeated Claudia Zapata (D) in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 21 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chip Roy (R) | 62.8 | 207,426 |
 | Claudia Zapata (D) | 37.2 | 122,655 | |
| Total votes: 330,081 | |||
| = 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 runoff
Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 21
Claudia Zapata (D) defeated Ricardo Villarreal (D) in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 21 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Claudia Zapata | 63.5 | 13,886 |
 | Ricardo Villarreal | 36.5 | 7,996 | |
| Total votes: 21,882 | |||
| = 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
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Claudia Zapata | 47.2 | 16,604 |
| ✔ | | Ricardo Villarreal | 27.3 | 9,590 |
 | Coy Branscum | 9.0 | 3,157 | |
 | David Anderson | 8.6 | 3,038 | |
 | Scott Sturm | 5.3 | 1,865 | |
 | Cherif Gacis | 2.6 | 902 | |
| Total votes: 35,156 | |||
| = 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
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21
Incumbent Chip Roy (R) defeated Robert Lowry (R), Dana Zavorka (R), and Michael French (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chip Roy | 83.2 | 78,087 |
 | Robert Lowry | 8.1 | 7,642 | |
 | Dana Zavorka | 4.5 | 4,206 | |
 | Michael French | 4.1 | 3,886 | |
| Total votes: 93,821 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 21
Incumbent Chip Roy (R) defeated Wendy Davis (D), Arthur DiBianca (L), and Thomas Wakely (G) in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 21 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chip Roy (R) | 52.0 | 235,740 |
 | Wendy Davis (D) | 45.4 | 205,780 | |
 | Arthur DiBianca (L) | 1.9 | 8,666 | |
 | Thomas Wakely (G) | 0.8 | 3,564 | |
| Total votes: 453,750 | |||
| = 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
- Michael Felts (Independent)
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21
Wendy Davis (D) defeated Jennie Lou Leeder (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Wendy Davis | 86.3 | 84,593 |
 | Jennie Lou Leeder | 13.7 | 13,485 | |
| Total votes: 98,078 | |||
| = 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
- Bruce Boville (D)
- Alan Ellis (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21
Incumbent Chip Roy (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chip Roy | 100.0 | 75,389 |
| Total votes: 75,389 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Green Party convention
Green convention for U.S. House Texas District 21
Thomas Wakely (G) advanced from the Green Party convention for U.S. House Texas District 21 on April 18, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas Wakely |
| ||||
| = 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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Libertarian Party convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 21
Arthur DiBianca (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 21, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Arthur DiBianca |
| ||||
| = 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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District analysis
Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.
- District map - A map of the district before and after redistricting ahead of the 2026 election.
- Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
- Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
- State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
Below is the district map used in the 2024 election next to the map in place for the 2026 election. Click on a map below to enlarge it.
2024
2026
This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in Texas.
Post-filing deadline analysis
The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Texas in 2026. Information below was calculated on Dec. 8, 2025, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.
Two hundred fifty-two candidates — 98 Democrats and 154 Republicans — ran for Texas’ 38 U.S. House districts. That’s 6.6 candidates per district. There were 4.2 candidates per district in 2024, 5.8 in 2022, 6.4 in 2020, 5.9 in 2018, 3.5 in 2016, and 2.8 in 2014.
These were the first elections to take place since the Texas Legislature passed a new congressional map. The Texas House of Representatives passed it on Aug. 20, 2025, and the Texas Senate passed it on Aug. 23, 2025. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed the new congressional map into law on Aug. 29, 2025.
This was the highest total number of candidates who ran for the U.S. House since 2014.
Ten districts were open in 2026. There were three districts open in 2024, six in 2022, six in 2020, eight in 2018, two in 2016, and one in 2014.
Reps. Morgan Luttrell (R-8th), Michael McCaul (R-10th), Jodey Arrington (R-19th), Troy Nehls (R-22nd), Marc Veasey (D-33rd), and Lloyd Doggett (D-37th) retired from public office. Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-30th) and Wesley Hunt (R-38th) ran for the U.S. Senate. Rep. Chip Roy (R-21st) ran for attorney general of Texas.
Two incumbents — Reps. Christian Menefee (D) and Al Green (D) — ran against each other in the redrawn 18th district. Menefee was the incumbent in the 18th district, and Green was the incumbent in the 9th district.
Fifty-nine primaries — 32 Democratic and 28 Republican — were contested in 2026. In total, there were 39 contested primaries in 2024, 44 in 2022, 50 in 2020, 46 in 2018, 33 in 2016, and 19 in 2014.
Fifteen candidates ran for the open 9th district, 21st district, and 35th district, tying for the most candidates running for a district in 2026.
Nineteen incumbents — eight Democrats and 11 Republicans — faced primary challengers in 2026. There were 19 incumbents in a contested primary in 2024, 19 in 2022, 18 in 2020, 15 in 2018, 19 in 2016, and 12 in 2014.
Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 38 districts, meaning no districts were guaranteed to either party.Partisan Voter Index
Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+11. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 11 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 21st the 104th most Republican district nationally.[13]
2020 presidential election results
The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.
Kamala Harris  | Donald Trump  |
|---|---|
| 38.6% | 59.0% |
Presidential voting history
- See also: Presidential election in Texas, 2024
Texas presidential election results (1900-2024)
- 16 Democratic wins
- 15 Republican wins
| Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winning Party | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
- See also: Party control of Texas state government
Congressional delegation
The table below displays the partisan composition of Texas' congressional delegation as of February 2026.
| Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Texas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total |
| Democratic | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| Republican | 2 | 25 | 27 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 38 | 40 |
State executive
The table below displays the officeholders in Texas' top four state executive offices as of October 2025.
| Office | Officeholder |
|---|---|
| Governor | Greg Abbott |
| Lieutenant Governor | Dan Patrick |
| Secretary of State | Jane Nelson |
| Attorney General | Ken Paxton |
State legislature
Texas State Senate
| Party | As of October 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 11 | |
| Republican Party | 18 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 2 | |
| Total | 31 | |
Texas House of Representatives
| Party | As of October 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 62 | |
| Republican Party | 88 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 150 | |
Trifecta control
Texas Party Control: 1992-2025
Three years of Democratic trifectas • Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Former MLB player Mark Teixeira announces run for 21st Congressional District," August 28, 2025
- ↑ ESPN, "Mark Teixeira biography," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ Mark Teixeira 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Mark Teixeira 2026 campaign website, "Issues," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ Mark Teixeira 2026 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Trey Trainor 2026 campaign website, "About Trey," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Texas GOP lawyer and former FEC chair Trey Trainor announces run for Chip Roy’s seat in Congress," October 6, 2025
- ↑ Trey Trainor 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
