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Texas' 17th Congressional District

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Texas redrew its congressional district boundaries in August 2025. Voters will elect representatives under the new map in 2026. Click here to read more about mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.

Texas' 17th Congressional District
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 3, 2021

Texas' 17th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Pete Sessions (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Texas representatives represented an average of 767,981 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 701,901 residents.

Elections

See also: Texas's 17th Congressional District election, 2030


There are no official candidates yet for this election.


See also: Texas' 17th Congressional District election, 2028


There are no official candidates yet for this election.


See also: Texas' 17th Congressional District election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17

Jamilah Flores (D), J. Gordon Mitchell (D), and Casey Shepard (D) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 3, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 17

Incumbent Pete Sessions (R) is running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Pete Sessions
Pete Sessions

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Texas' 17th Congressional District election, 2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 17

Incumbent Pete Sessions (R) defeated Mark Lorenzen (D) in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 17 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Sessions
Pete Sessions (R)
 
66.3
 
193,101
Image of Mark Lorenzen
Mark Lorenzen (D)
 
33.7
 
97,941

Total votes: 291,042
Candidate Connection = 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

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17

Mark Lorenzen (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Lorenzen
Mark Lorenzen
 
100.0
 
13,925

Total votes: 13,925
Candidate Connection = 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 17

Incumbent Pete Sessions (R) defeated Joseph T. Langone (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Sessions
Pete Sessions
 
84.9
 
67,798
Image of Joseph T. Langone
Joseph T. Langone  Candidate Connection
 
15.1
 
12,052

Total votes: 79,850
Candidate Connection = 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 17

Clyde Garland (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 23, 2024.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Texas' 17th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 17

Incumbent Pete Sessions (R) defeated Mary Jo Woods (D) in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 17 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Sessions
Pete Sessions (R)
 
66.5
 
144,408
Image of Mary Jo Woods
Mary Jo Woods (D)  Candidate Connection
 
33.5
 
72,801

Total votes: 217,209
Candidate Connection = 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

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17

Mary Jo Woods (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mary Jo Woods
Mary Jo Woods  Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
17,085

Total votes: 17,085
Candidate Connection = 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 17

Incumbent Pete Sessions (R) defeated Jason Nelson (R), Paulette Carson (R), and Robert Rosenberger (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Sessions
Pete Sessions
 
69.9
 
48,222
Image of Jason Nelson
Jason Nelson  Candidate Connection
 
12.1
 
8,371
Image of Paulette Carson
Paulette Carson
 
10.5
 
7,246
Image of Robert Rosenberger
Robert Rosenberger
 
7.4
 
5,100

Total votes: 68,939
Candidate Connection = 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

See also: Texas' 17th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 17

Pete Sessions (R) defeated Rick Kennedy (D) and Ted Brown (L) in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 17 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Sessions
Pete Sessions (R)
 
55.9
 
171,390
Image of Rick Kennedy
Rick Kennedy (D)  Candidate Connection
 
40.9
 
125,565
Image of Ted Brown
Ted Brown (L)  Candidate Connection
 
3.2
 
9,918

Total votes: 306,873
Candidate Connection = 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 runoff

Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 17

Rick Kennedy (D) defeated David Jaramillo (D) in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 17 on July 14, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Rick Kennedy
Rick Kennedy  Candidate Connection
 
57.3
 
13,496
Image of David Jaramillo
David Jaramillo  Candidate Connection
 
42.7
 
10,054

Total votes: 23,550
(100% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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 runoff

Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 17

Pete Sessions (R) defeated Renee Swann (R) in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 17 on July 14, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Sessions
Pete Sessions
 
53.5
 
18,524
Image of Renee Swann
Renee Swann
 
46.5
 
16,096

Total votes: 34,620
(100% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17

Rick Kennedy (D) and David Jaramillo (D) advanced to a runoff. They defeated William Foster III (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Rick Kennedy
Rick Kennedy  Candidate Connection
 
47.9
 
22,148
Image of David Jaramillo
David Jaramillo  Candidate Connection
 
35.0
 
16,170
Image of William Foster III
William Foster III  Candidate Connection
 
17.1
 
7,887

Total votes: 46,205
Candidate Connection = 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 17

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Sessions
Pete Sessions
 
31.6
 
21,667
Image of Renee Swann
Renee Swann
 
19.0
 
13,047
Image of George Hindman
George Hindman
 
18.1
 
12,405
Image of Elianor Vessali
Elianor Vessali  Candidate Connection
 
9.2
 
6,283
Scott Bland
 
7.2
 
4,947
Image of Trent Sutton
Trent Sutton  Candidate Connection
 
5.2
 
3,593
Image of Todd Kent
Todd Kent  Candidate Connection
 
3.5
 
2,367
Image of Kristen Alamo Rowin
Kristen Alamo Rowin  Candidate Connection
 
1.7
 
1,183
Image of Laurie Godfrey McReynolds
Laurie Godfrey McReynolds  Candidate Connection
 
1.6
 
1,105
David Saucedo
 
1.4
 
975
Jeffrey Oppenheim (Withdrew, appeared on ballot)
 
0.7
 
483
Image of Ahmad Adnan
Ahmad Adnan  Candidate Connection
 
0.7
 
477

Total votes: 68,532
Candidate Connection = 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 17

Ted Brown (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 21, 2020.

Candidate
Image of Ted Brown
Ted Brown  Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 17

Incumbent Bill Flores (R) defeated Rick Kennedy (D) and Peter Churchman (L) in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 17 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bill Flores
Bill Flores (R)  Candidate Connection
 
56.8
 
134,841
Image of Rick Kennedy
Rick Kennedy (D)
 
41.3
 
98,070
Image of Peter Churchman
Peter Churchman (L)  Candidate Connection
 
1.9
 
4,440

Total votes: 237,3510
Candidate Connection = 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

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17

Rick Kennedy (D) defeated Dale Mantey (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Rick Kennedy
Rick Kennedy
 
63.3
 
14,343
Image of Dale Mantey
Dale Mantey
 
36.7
 
8,300

Total votes: 22,643
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 17

Incumbent Bill Flores (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 17 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bill Flores
Bill Flores  Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
44,388

Total votes: 44,388
Candidate Connection = 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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Previous election results


District map

2023_01_03_tx_congressional_district_017.jpg

Redistricting

2025-2026

See also: Redistricting in Texas ahead of the 2026 elections

In August 2025, the Texas Legislature proposed a new congressional district map during special legislative sessions that prompted Democratic legislators to leave the state to prevent a quorum.[15][16] Click here to read more about the 2025 Democratic walkout during mid-decade redistricting in Texas.

On August 20, 2025, the Texas House approved House Bill 4 containing a new congressional map by an 88-52 vote along party lines.[17] On August 23, 2025, the Texas Senate approved the map by an 18-11 vote along party lines.[18] Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed the new map into law on August 29, 2025.[19] The bill text stated the new district boundaries would take effect for the 2026 elections.[20]

On November 18, 2025, a three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to block Texas from using the 2025 map in the 2026 elections, and ordered the state to use the 2021 map.[21] On November 21, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily paused the panel's ruling, reinstating the new map pending further Court action.[22] On December 4, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 2025 map could be used for the 2026 elections.[23]

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Texas after the 2020 census

After the 2020 census, Texas enacted new congressional districts on October 25, 2021. The Senate released a proposed congressional map on September 27, 2021, and approved an amended version of the proposal on October 8, 2021.[24] On October 13, 2021, the House Redistricting Committee approved an amended version of the congressional map, and both chambers of the legislature approved a finalized version of the map on October 18, 2021. The Senate approved the proposal in an 18-13 vote, and the House approved the bill in an 84-59 vote.[25] Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed the map into law on October 25, 2021.[26] This map took effect for Texas' 2022 congressional elections.

How does redistricting in Texas work? In Texas, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Texas State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[27]

If the state legislature is unable to approve a state legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines (the backup commission is not involved in congressional redistricting). This backup commission, established in 1948, comprises the following members:[27]

  1. Lieutenant governor
  2. Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
  3. Attorney general
  4. State comptroller
  5. Commissioner of the General Land Office

The Texas Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and "that they preserve whole counties when population mandates permit."[27]

2020

2019_05_02_tx_congressional_district_017.jpg

2024

2023_01_03_tx_congressional_district_017.jpg
The 17th Congressional District of Texas, prior to the 2010-2011 redistricting process.
See also: Redistricting in Texas after the 2010 census

Following the 2010 United States Census, Texas gained four congressional seats. Texas' final congressional redistricting plan was approved by the Texas Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Perry (R) in June 2013.[28][29][30]

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2026

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+14. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 14 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 17th the 85th most Republican district nationally.[31]

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+14. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 14 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 17th the 88th most Republican district nationally.[32]

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 60.5%-38.0%.[33]

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+14. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 14 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 17th the 93rd most Republican district nationally.[34]

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 38.0% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 60.5%.[35]

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+12. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 12 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 17th Congressional District the 113th most Republican nationally.[36]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.97. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.97 points toward that party.[37]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed December 15, 2015
  2. The New York Times, "Texas Primary Results," March 1, 2016
  3. Politico, "2012 Election Map, Texas," November 6, 2012
  4. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  5. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
  6. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
  7. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
  8. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
  9. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
  10. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998," accessed March 28, 2013
  11. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1996," accessed March 28, 2013
  12. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994," accessed March 28, 2013
  13. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1992," accessed March 28, 2013
  14. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990," accessed March 28, 2013
  15. Associated Press, "Texas Democrats fleeing state to block redistricting vote follows strategy that’s had mixed results," August 3, 2025
  16. Texas Tribune, "The Texas Legislature is back for a special session. Here’s what we’re watching.," July 21, 2025
  17. CBS News, "Texas House passes GOP redistricting plan after weeks-long standoff," August 20, 2025
  18. Houston Chronicle, "Texas Democrats ramp up criticism of new Texas congressional map after Senate sends it to governor," August 23, 2025
  19. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named signed
  20. LegiScan, "Texas House Bill 4," accessed August 29, 2025
  21. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2025block
  22. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scotusstay
  23. Politico, "Supreme Court gives Texas OK to use House map drawn to boost GOP," December 4, 2025
  24. Texas Tribune, "Texas Senate approves congressional map that draws no new Black or Hispanic districts even as people of color fueled population growth," October 8, 2021
  25. Texas Legislature Online, "SB 6," accessed October 20, 2021
  26. Texas Tribune, "Gov. Greg Abbott signs off on Texas’ new political maps, which protect GOP majorities while diluting voices of voters of color," October 25, 2021
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 All About Redistricting, "Texas," accessed May 7, 2015
  28. All About Redistricting, "Texas," accessed May 7, 2015
  29. All About Redistricting, "Litigation in the 2010 cycle, Texas," accessed May 7, 2015
  30. Barone, M. & McCutcheon, C. (2013). The almanac of American politics 2014 : the senators, the representatives and the governors : their records and election results, their states and districts. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
  31. Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  32. Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
  33. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
  34. Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023
  35. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
  36. Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  37. FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
Al Green (D)
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
Vacant
District 19
District 20
District 21
Chip Roy (R)
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
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District 37
District 38
Republican Party (27)
Democratic Party (12)
Vacancies (1)