Texas' 8th Congressional District election, 2026

A three-judge panel struck down Texas' 2025 congressional map and ordered the state to use the 2021 map in the 2026 elections. Texas appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which temporarily stayed the ruling on Nov. 21, 2025. Click here to read more about mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.

← 2024
Texas' 8th 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 8th 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 is December 8, 2025. For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

• Texas' 8th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)
• Texas' 8th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

• Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
• Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

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 election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 8

Keith Coleman and Laura Jones are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 8 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Keith Coleman
		Laura Jones

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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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 8

Jay Fondren, Brett Jensen, Jessica Steinmann, Nick Tran, and Deddrick Wilmer are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 8 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Jay Fondren
	Submit photo	Brett Jensen
		Jessica Steinmann
		Nick Tran
		Deddrick Wilmer

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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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jeff Yuna (R)

March 3 Republican Primary

See also: Texas' 8th 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.

Five candidates are running in the Republican primary for Texas' 8th Congressional District on March 3, 2026. The filing deadline is December 8, 2025. Two candidates lead in media attention and endorsements: Jessica Steinmann (R) and Nick Tran (R).

Incumbent Morgan Luttrell (R) is not running for re-election. 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 2022, when Luttrell was first elected.

Steinmann is an attorney and works as general counsel for the America First Policy Institute. She served as Director of the Office of Victims of Crime in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) from 2020 to 2021 and previously worked for the office of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and the Texas House of Representatives. Steinmann says she would focus on family-related policies, highlighting her work in the DOJ addressing human trafficking and her litigation requiring transgender athletes to participate in sports based on their sex. Steinmann is campaigning on her legal experience, saying she has "led the charge in conservative fights" through litigation. Highlighting President Donald Trump (R) appointing her to the DOJ, Steinmann says she supports Trump’s policies and has "stood shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump and the America First movement." Cruz, Luttrell, and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) endorsed Steinmann.

Tran is a small business owner and U.S. Army veteran. Tran says he would focus on economic growth and reducing the cost of living by decreasing small business regulations, lowering taxes, and reducing federal spending. Highlighting his career experience in the energy industry, he also says he would promote oil and gas production to improve the economy. Tran says he would improve public safety by increasing funding for border patrol and law enforcement, as well as by "staunchly oppos[ing] legislation that restricts our right to bear arms." Tran is campaigning on his military service and says he would "create a system that honors our veterans, empowers them to succeed, and ensures that no one who served this great nation is left behind." Former Republican Party of Texas chair Allen West (R) and Veterans for America First endorsed Tran.

Also running in the primary are Jay Fondren (R), Brett Jensen (R), and Deddrick Wilmer (R).

As of November 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. Luttrell won re-election in 2024 with 68% of the vote.

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.

Jessica Steinmann

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Steinmann received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Baylor University. At the time of the election, she worked as the general counsel for the America First Policy Institute. She served as Director of the Office of Victims of Crime in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2020 to 2021. She previously worked for the office of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texas House of Representatives, and the Harris County Republican Party.

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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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Steinmann highlighted her legal experience as qualifying her for the office, saying she “led the charge in conservative fights.” She said, “From the courtroom to the Department of Justice, I have spent my life defending what makes this country great.”

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Steinmann said she would focus on family-related policies and would “defend parental rights, protect children from radical agendas, and keep Texas a stronghold for faith, freedom, and traditional values.” She highlighted her work combating human trafficking and requiring transgender athletes to participate in sports based on their sex.

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Steinmann said she would focus on election security. She highlighted her experience in election legislation and said she “helped draft Texas’s landmark election integrity law, which drew national attention” and “led lawsuits across the nation to protect election integrity.”

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Steinmann said her appointment to the Department of Justice by President Trump highlighted her support of his agenda. She said, “I have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump and the America First movement to secure our borders, defend our Constitution, and put American workers and families first.”

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Show sources

Sources: Jessica Steinmann 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed November 2, 2025; Jessica Steinmann 2026 campaign website, "Jessica Hart Steinmann Announces Run for Congress," September 12, 2025; LinkedIn, "Jessica Hart Steinmann," accessed November 2, 2025; 

Nick Tran

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Nick Tran is a Vietnam War refugee who escaped during the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. After enduring life in a refugee camp in Guam, he was granted political asylum and welcomed into the United States. Driven by a deep sense of gratitude to the Vietnam Veterans who fought for his freedom and to the nation that embraced him and his father during their darkest hour, Nick enlisted in the U.S. Army immediately after high school, serving as a frontline soldier in Operation Desert Storm. Following his honorable discharge in 1991, Nick used his GI Bill to pursue a college education and embarked on a successful career in the corporate sector. The tragic events of September 11, 2001, reignited his desire to serve, prompting him to reenlist. In 2005, he volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and later for Operation Iraqi Freedom. After 13 years of dedicated service, Nick transitioned to a career in the oil and gas industry. Nick founded and spearheaded a global veteran program to help empower veterans to successfully get back on their feet and reintegrate back into society. The program helped SLB win the Military Friendly Employer designation for eight consecutive years. In 2024, Nick left the oil and gas industry to pursue entrepreneurship. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Trident University International and a PLDA from Harvard Business School. Nick is married to Valarie Tran and has two young children, Miles and Genevieve."

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Key Messages

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

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SAFER: "I am dedicated to making Texas safer by supporting law enforcement, strengthening border security, and ensuring our communities are protected from crime and violence. I strongly support the Second Amendment: the only common sense gun law has already been written; it's called the 2A. It exists to keep the government in check, not its citizens."

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MORE PROSPEROUS: "I am committed to working tirelessly to cultivate a robust economy that benefits every Texan. My focus will be on promoting job growth, supporting small businesses, and advocating for forward-thinking policies that foster innovation and attract investment in our great state. Drawing from my extensive experience in the oil and gas industry and in running a business, I firmly believe in the importance of America’s energy independence. My background in managing a profit and loss statement has equipped me with a strong understanding of financial literacy and the principles of responsible spending. This knowledge will guide my efforts to ensure that our economy not only survives but thrives, creating a prosperous future.

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I have been a warrior all my life, and I am choosing to return to the fray to serve the only country to which I pledge allegiance and the one I love. I am not a career politician; I am a husband, father, combat veteran, and small business owner, and I am running to serve once more. To affirm my commitment, I offer the following pledges: 1. I will donate one-third of my salary to veteran causes and nonprofits dedicated to our heroes. 2. I will serve only two terms, as I believe in limiting the benefits associated with a congressional career. This commitment allows me to serve without adding an extra burden on taxpayers, as I already receive VA benefits for my service in three separate wars.

See more

See more here: Texas' 8th 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.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Texas

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

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.

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Keith Coleman	Democratic Party	$20	$0	$20	As of September 30, 2025
Laura Jones	Democratic Party	$2,468	$2,306	$2,663	As of September 30, 2025
Jay Fondren	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Brett Jensen	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Jessica Steinmann	Republican Party	$627,225	$9,473	$617,752	As of September 30, 2025
Nick Tran	Republican Party	$118,063	$106,101	$11,962	As of September 30, 2025
Deddrick Wilmer	Republican Party	$46,032	$26,396	$19,636	As of September 30, 2025
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' 8th Congressional District election, 2026
Race tracker	Race ratings
	12/2/2025	11/25/2025	11/18/2025	11/11/2025
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	2/13/2026	Source

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

District analysis

This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.

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

Vacant

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 (12)

Vacancies (1)

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Election information

Ballot access for major and minor party candidates • List of candidates running for election • List of congressional challengers • Congressional incumbents not running for re-election

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Super PACs/Organizations

American Bridge 21st Century • American Crossroads • American Unity PAC • Campaign for Primary Accountability • Club for Growth Action • Congressional Leadership Fund • Cooperative of American Physicians IE Committee• Crossroads Generation • Ending Spending Action Fund • Endorse Liberty • Fair Share Action • FreedomWorks for America • Government Integrity Fund • House Majority PAC • Independence USA Fund • League of Conservation Voters • Liberty for All PAC • Majority PAC • National Association of Realtors • NEA Advocacy Fund • Now or Never PAC • Planned Parenthood Votes • Ready for Hillary • Republicans for a Prosperous America • Restore America's Voice PAC • SEIU Pea-Federal • Women Vote!

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