Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026

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.

← 2024
Texas' 21st Congressional District
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. Voting in Texas
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican 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 is March 3, 2026, and a primary runoff is May 26, 2026. The filing deadline was December 8, 2025. 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 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 21

Dan McQueen is running in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 21 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Dan McQueen (Independent)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= 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 election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21

Kristin Hook, Gary Taylor, and Regina Vanburg are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Kristin Hook
		Gary Taylor
		Regina Vanburg

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= 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 are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Daniel Betts
		Jason Cahill
		Jacques DuBose
		Ezekiel Enriquez
		Weston Martinez
		Paul Rojas
		Kyle Sinclair (Unofficially withdrew)
		Mark Teixeira
		Heather Tessmer
		Trey Trainor
		Peggy Wardlaw
		Mike Wheeler

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= 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

See also: Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026 (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.

Thirteen candidates are running in the Republican primary for Texas' 21st Congressional District on March 3, 2026. Two candidates lead in media attention and endorsements: Mark Teixeira (R) and Trey Trainor (R).

Incumbent Chip Roy (R) is running 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." 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 is a former professional baseball player and World Series champion. Teixeira says he would support the military, end American involvement in long-term conflicts, and prioritize American interests to "champion President Trump’s America First agenda." Teixeira says he would support law enforcement and border security to promote local and national safety. He says he would cut federal spending and promote Texas’ oil, gas, and nuclear industries to improve the economy. Teixeira also says he would "restore patriotic education rooted in American and Texas values." Trump, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) endorsed Teixeira.

Trainor is a lawyer who previously worked as general counsel for the Texas Secretary of State and the Republican Party of Texas. He also served as a commissioner on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from 2020 to 2025. Trainor says his legislative priorities would be improving border security, reducing federal spending, and upholding Constitutional rights. Trainor is campaigning on his legal experience, saying he has "been on the front lines defending the Constitution" throughout his career. He is also campaigning on his experience on the FEC, saying he has a history of promoting election security. Highlighting Trump appointing him to the FEC, Trainor says he supports Trump’s policies and describes himself as a "soldier of the conservative cause and the America First agenda." Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian (R) and former chair of the Republican Party of Texas Cathie Adams (R) endorsed Trainor.

Also running in the primary are Daniel Betts (R), Jason Cahill (R), 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.

Daniel Betts

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."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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As a defense attorney with over 15 years of experience, Daniel Betts has consistently fought to defend constitutional rights and stand up to government overreach. He is committed to bringing that same resolve to Washington to protect individual liberties and limit federal government interference in Texans' lives.

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Raised with pro-life values and inspired by attending the March for Life as a child, Daniel continues that fight today. He and his wife, Piper, are raising their three young boys in the Hill Country, where they are active in their church and community. Daniel is dedicated to representing families and upholding the sanctity of life in Congress.

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A lifelong Republican and committed Christian, Daniel Betts is running to represent Texas' 21st Congressional District with principled leadership. He knows how to stand his ground in the courtroom and will bring that resolve to Washington for Texas.

Jason Cahill

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)."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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I am the only candidate for Texas U.S. House District 21 and one of the very few candidates anywhere in this country who stood in uniform when America was attacked on 9/11. I was on Active Duty as a U.S. Navy Intelligence Specialist when the towers fell. When my service ended, I didn’t walk away from the fight I went back to the war zone in Iraq as an intelligence contractor. I ran toward danger, not away from it, because when this country is under threat, Americans step up. That is who I am, that is how I serve, and that is how I’ll fight for you in Congress.

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As a Veteran, I’ve learned what service, sacrifice, and dedication truly mean, and I bring that same commitment to public leadership. As a CEO, I understand how to manage resources wisely, solve complex problems, and make decisions that deliver results, not just promises. As a family man, I’m grounded in the values of integrity, compassion, and long-term thinking, because every decision affects not just today’s challenges but the world our children will inherit.

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My background has given me a balanced perspective, the strategic mindset to lead, the practical experience to manage, and the personal motivation to build a stronger future for all.

Ezekiel Enriquez

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."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Zeke believes in America and the American's who make it GREAT! We must fall back on our founding principles in order to restore our republic! Zeke believes in strong, secure borders that include completing the construction of our border wall and expediting mass deportations. "We must prioritize American exceptionalism by halting H1B visas and other legal forms of immigration until we get our house in order."

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Zeke takes a no-compromise stance on the 2nd Amendment and believes the founders wrote it perfectly, with "shall not be infringed" meaning exactly that. Zeke will work to fully restore our 2nd Amendment rights by repealing the National Firearms Act of 1934, the Gun Control Act of 1968, red flag laws, and abolishing the ATF.

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Zeke has a strong foundation of faith that guides his beliefs in family and freedom. Zeke believes America thrives when we prioritize traditional nuclear families. "Marriage is between one man and one woman." Zeke recognizes that all life is precious and begins at conception. Zeke is a fighter for the unborn and will work to abolish the abomination that is abortion. Children win when parents are provided choices on education. Zeke and his wife Lisa homeschool their children and he promotes homeschooling, school choice, and keeping the government out of our parental rights. "Parents know what's best for their children. Families flourish when their freedoms are unrestricted."

Paul Rojas

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."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Washington is broken because too many politicians treat it like a career, not a calling. I’ll fight to impose term limits, end insider trading, and hold Congress to the same standards as every working American. Public service should be temporary, a duty to your country, not a lifelong paycheck.

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We need to rebuild the American middle class not just with slogans, but with action. As a business owner and engineer, I’ll stand up for small businesses, rebuild domestic manufacturing, and make it easier for families to own a home, raise kids, and build a future without government standing in their way.

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Texas is powering America’s future from energy to AI but our communities shouldn’t pay the price for corporate greed. I’ll fight to make sure data centers and AI companies invest in local jobs, not just drain our water and power. Innovation should strengthen our grid, create real careers, and protect the natural resources that make Texas home. Technology should serve people not to replace them.

Kyle Sinclair

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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The campaign's healthcare initiative focuses on expanding access to quality, affordable care while improving accountability and outcomes. Led by an award-winning healthcare executive with 20 years of experience, the campaign prioritizes protecting emergency and rural healthcare services, strengthening primary and preventive care, and reducing costs by addressing waste, fraud, and administrative inefficiencies. The initiative emphasizes patient-centered decision-making, transparency in healthcare pricing, targeting tax relief for small businesses that provide health insurance and for individuals paying their healthcare premiums, and polies that support medical professionals while maintaining fiscal responsibility and individual care

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I support limited, disciplined approach to federal infrastructure investment. Rather than broad spending or earmark-style requests, the focus is on a narrow set of public interests' projects such as flood control, transportation safety, emergency services, water systems, and rural emergency hospital infrastructure. Any supported projects should be publicly owned, locally supported, fully transparent, and one-time in nature. Most proposals should be a small number of critical projects advanced to protect lives, property, and essential services

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I support President Trump's affordability agenda, which emphasizes lowering costs for working families through reduced taxes, regulatory reform, domestic energy production, and supply-side economic growth. Addressing the national debt-now exceeding $38 trillion-requires disciplined budgeting, pro-growth policies that expand the tax base, and a commitment to curbing wasteful federal spending. I believe affordability and fiscal responsibility must pursued together, pairing economic growth with long-term structural reforms to stabilize debt and protect future generations.

Mark Teixeira

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.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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On foreign policy, Teixeira said he would "champion President Trump’s America First agenda" by supporting the military, ending American involvement in long-term conflicts, and "[putting] America's interests first at home and abroad."

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On national security, Teixeira said he would "secure the southern border, deport illegal aliens, and crush the cartels." Domestically, he said he would support law enforcement to lower the crime rate.

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Teixeira said he would improve the economy by cutting federal spending. He also said he would promote Texas’ oil, gas, and nuclear industries to lower energy costs.

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On education, Teixeira said he would support parental involvement in schools. He said he would "defend parental rights, kill DEI, [and] restore patriotic education rooted in American and Texas values."

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Show sources

Sources: Mark Teixeira 2026 campaign website, "Issues," accessed October 26, 2025; ESPN, "Mark Teixeira biography," accessed October 26, 2025; Mark Teixeira 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 26, 2025; NBC 5 DFW, "Former Rangers 1B Mark Teixeira Earns College Degree," May 5, 2022

Trey Trainor

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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I’m a trusted ally of President Donald Trump, committed to advancing his America First agenda. As former FEC Chair appointed by Trump, I fought to defended free speech, and upheld constitutional values. In Congress, I’ll secure our borders, protect the unborn, and defend Second Amendment rights, just as I did advising Trump’s campaign. I’ll cut wasteful spending, oppose radical agendas, and restore our Republic’s founding principles. With a proven record of standing with Trump against the swamp, I’m ready to represent TX-21’s patriots. Join me at trey4tx.com to keep Texas strong and free, backing Trump’s vision for a prosperous, secure America!

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I’m a proven conservative for Texas, with a record as legal counsel to the Republican Party of Texas and representing grassroots organizations in court and at the Texas Legislature. I’ve fought for election integrity, defended pro-life causes, and protected Second Amendment rights. As former FEC Chair, I battled government overreach and upheld constitutional freedoms. In Congress, I’ll secure borders, cut wasteful spending, and champion TX-21’s values. My decades of advocacy for conservative principles make me the trusted voice to represent our district.

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I’m ready to serve the people of District 21 in Congress on day one, with a proven record of fighting bureaucracy in Washington. As former FEC Chair under President Trump, I battled election fraud, defended free speech, and took on the swamp. My experience as legal counsel in Texas and Washington equips me to deliver results—securing borders, protecting the unborn, and defending Second Amendment rights. I’ve spent years challenging government overreach, ensuring conservative values prevail. TX-21 deserves a leader who’s battle-tested and ready to act.

Mike Wheeler

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."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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To tackle inflation and ensure sustainable growth, Congress must act swiftly. That means eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse identified in audits, and enforcing a constitutional balanced budget. The trillions in federal assets—land and resources—should be managed like a business through public-private partnerships to generate returns dedicated to reducing the national debt. Lowering the debt will reduce interest rates, making borrowing cheaper, supporting affordable housing, and encouraging investment and job creation. Pair these steps with permanent tax reforms—lowering individual and capital gains taxes, and eliminating the estate tax—to foster long-term growth and fiscal stability.

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Rising healthcare premiums and limited local access are squeezing American families. Congress must increase competition by allowing insurance to be sold across state lines and breaking up monopolies. Open up networks to empower patients to compare costs—whether for an MRI or routine care—and choose the most affordable option. Telemedicine should be expanded, especially in rural communities, to reduce travel and wait times. HSAs must be strengthened by raising contribution limits and expanding eligibility so individuals, not insurers, control healthcare spending. Finally, we must rein in the power of PBMs and pharmaceutical giants to lower drug prices. A transparent, free-market healthcare system will reduce costs and put patients first.

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America must reform immigration. End birthright citizenship so there is no automatic citizenship for children of non-citizens. Our system should be merit-based, prioritizing skills, education, English proficiency, and economic contribution. Those who come here must be willing to assimilate into American culture. Trump's travel bans should be codified. We must enforce the law by deporting those here illegally, starting with criminals, and require asylum seekers to remain in Mexico. The diversity lottery should be eliminated, and chain migration should be limited to immediate family. Illegals should not receive public benefits. H-1B visas should be phased out, with corporations partnering with universities to develop American talent first.

See more

See more here: Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)

• Polls
• Campaign finance
• Satellite spending
• Endorsements
• Campaign ads

Candidate profiles

There are currently no candidate profiles created for this race. Candidate profiles will appear here as they are created. Encourage the candidates in this race to complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey so that their profile will appear here. You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

• Dan McQueen

Voting information

See also: Voting in Texas

Election information in Texas: March 3, 2026, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: Feb. 2, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by Feb. 2, 2026
• Online: N/A

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

No

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: Feb. 20, 2026
• By mail: Received by Feb. 20, 2026
• Online: N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: March 3, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by March 3, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Feb. 17, 2026 to Feb. 27, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (CT/MT)

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. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

No candidate in this race has completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia is seeking 100 percent participation so voters can learn more about all the candidates on their ballots.

You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

• Dan McQueen

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Kristin Hook	Democratic Party	$48,251	$8,505	$44,103	As of December 31, 2025
Gary Taylor	Democratic Party	$16,142	$12,421	$3,721	As of December 31, 2025
Regina Vanburg	Democratic Party	$4,853	$4,228	$-251	As of December 31, 2025
Daniel Betts	Republican Party	$151,479	$60,867	$90,613	As of December 31, 2025
Jason Cahill	Republican Party	$284,491	$167,123	$117,368	As of December 31, 2025
Jacques DuBose	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Ezekiel Enriquez	Republican Party	$88,242	$69,593	$14,277	As of December 31, 2025
Weston Martinez	Republican Party	$18,724	$13,144	$5,580	As of December 31, 2025
Paul Rojas	Republican Party	$165,026	$8,165	$156,862	As of December 31, 2025
Kyle Sinclair	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Mark Teixeira	Republican Party	$3,045,130	$480,205	$2,564,925	As of December 31, 2025
Heather Tessmer	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Trey Trainor	Republican Party	$94,253	$18,281	$75,972	As of December 31, 2025
Peggy Wardlaw	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Mike Wheeler	Republican Party	$325,374	$137,297	$188,078	As of December 31, 2025
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." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

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.
• 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.

Race ratings: Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026
Race tracker	Race ratings
	2/10/2026	2/3/2026	1/27/2026	1/20/2026
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.

• 2024
• 2022
• 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

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 426,423
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	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.
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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

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	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.
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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

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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 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

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	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

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	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

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	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

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	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

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 75,389
= 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.

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

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= 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

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

		Candidate
✔		Arthur DiBianca

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= 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.

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.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

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

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 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

See also: The Cook Political Report's 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.

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.

2024 presidential results in Texas' 21st Congressional District

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 October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Texas
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	12	12
Republican	2	25	27
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	1	1
Total	2	38	40

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Texas' top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Texas, 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

Texas	2026 primaries	2026 U.S. Congress elections
Texas congressional delegation Voting in Texas Texas elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

Texas' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

John Cornyn (R)

Ted Cruz (R)

Representatives

District 1

Nathaniel Moran (R)

District 2

Daniel Crenshaw (R)

District 3

Keith Self (R)

District 4

Pat Fallon (R)

District 5

Lance Gooden (R)

District 6

Jake Ellzey (R)

District 7

Lizzie Fletcher (D)

District 8

Morgan Luttrell (R)

District 9

Al Green (D)

District 10

Michael McCaul (R)

District 11

August Pfluger (R)

District 12

Craig Goldman (R)

District 13

Ronny Jackson (R)

District 14

Randy Weber (R)

District 15

Monica De La Cruz (R)

District 16

Veronica Escobar (D)

District 17

Pete Sessions (R)

District 18

Christian Menefee (D)

District 19

Jodey Arrington (R)

District 20

Joaquin Castro (D)

District 21

Chip Roy (R)

District 22

Troy Nehls (R)

District 23

Tony Gonzales (R)

District 24

Beth Van Duyne (R)

District 25

Roger Williams (R)

District 26

Brandon Gill (R)

District 27

Michael Cloud (R)

District 28

Henry Cuellar (D)

District 29

Sylvia Garcia (D)

District 30

Jasmine Crockett (D)

District 31

John Carter (R)

District 32

Julie Johnson (D)

District 33

Marc Veasey (D)

District 34

Vicente Gonzalez (D)

District 35

Greg Casar (D)

District 36

Brian Babin (R)

District 37

Lloyd Doggett (D)

District 38

Wesley Hunt (R)

Republican Party (27)

Democratic Party (13)

2025-2026 Elections to the United States Congress

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Election information

Ballot access for major and minor party candidates • List of candidates running for election • List of congressional challengers • Retiring senators • Retiring representatives

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Super PACs/Organizations

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