Theresa Courts
Theresa Courts (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 38th Congressional District. She lost in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.
Courts completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Theresa Courts served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 2008 to 2014. She earned a graduate degree from Angelo State University in 2020. Her career experience includes working as a school counselor.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2026
Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)
Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 26 Republican primary runoff)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
The primary runoff will occur on May 26, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary runoff.
General election for U.S. House Texas District 38
Melissa McDonough and William Taggart are running in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 38 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Melissa McDonough (D)  | |
 | William Taggart (Independent) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 38
Jon Bonck and Shelly deZevallos are running in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 38 on May 26, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Jon Bonck | |
 | Shelly deZevallos | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38
Melissa McDonough defeated Marvalette Hunter and Theresa Courts in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa McDonough | 51.6 | 26,998 |
 | Marvalette Hunter | 28.3 | 14,791 | |
 | Theresa Courts | 20.1 | 10,497 | |
| Total votes: 52,286 | |||
| = 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
- Curtis Cook II (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 38 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jon Bonck | 47.7 | 24,288 |
| ✔ | | Shelly deZevallos | 18.6 | 9,473 |
 | Michael Pratt | 10.9 | 5,569 | |
 | Larry Rubin | 6.7 | 3,391 | |
 | Barrett McNabb | 6.2 | 3,151 | |
 | Jeff Yuna | 2.3 | 1,172 | |
 | Jennifer Sundt | 2.3 | 1,168 | |
 | Carmen Montiel | 2.2 | 1,140 | |
 | Craig Goralski | 1.5 | 774 | |
 | Avery Ayers | 1.5 | 759 | |
| Total votes: 50,885 | |||
| = 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
- Damien Mockus (R)
- Wesley Hunt (R)
Green convention
Green convention for U.S. House Texas District 38
Alex McMenemy is running in the Green convention for U.S. House Texas District 38 on April 11, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Alex McMenemy (G) | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Theresa Courts completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Courts' responses.
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My mother instilled in me the determination, strength, and fire that drives me to serve our community.
In my dozen years as an educator, pouring into the next generation, I saw firsthand the many challenges that students in Texas face. As a school counselor, I advocated for our vulnerable students; disabled, English learners, homeless, and foster youth.
Rooted in my hardships as a young child and the lessons my mother taught, I was inspired to be of service to my community. Through my time in the National Guard, I was able to give back to our country while growing my personal resilience and responsibility. My time as a teacher, foster mother, and school counselor has shown where there are shortfalls in our current system, causing harm to our children and communities. Issues that a public educator cannot fix alone. I am running for US House of Representative CD 38 to protect and advocate for the children and families of Texas regardless of political or personal beliefs. I will fight for our Working and Middle class families, to put people over politics and make the American dream accessible for ALL.- Affordability
The American dream is slipping further out of reach for everyday Texans. Prices continue to rise, from groceries & housing, to healthcare & childcare. Meanwhile, many Americans face stagnating wages. In the last 8 years, we’ve seen an almost 40% increase in Billionaires, as 1.5 million more children became food insecure. The rich get richer and the children get hungrier. The economy is rigged. You are working hard. You are striving for a good life- but politicians have allowed the economy to cater to the elites, the mega-corporations and monopolies instead of hard working families.
I will fight for our working and middle class families- not the elite, not the corporations or monopolies. - Rights and Freedoms In the National Guard I swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and bear true faith and allegiance to the same. Our founders created a document meant to adapt and grow with us. But now, politicians in DC try to circumvent our rights, leach power from the other branches. Our rights are sacred and innate- we must stand up and fight before they’re lost. I will fight tooth and nail for our country- as a Veteran it is my duty. In congress I will fight to strengthen the constitution and hold responsible those who have violated it. Restore our checks and balances. Protect our freedoms of speech, press, and religion. Ensure due process.
- Safe schools I have been an educator for over 12 years, and our schools are not safe. It seems like every year another educational institution enters the public consciousness as a tragedy. More lives lost to senseless violence, and all congress seems to do is slash budgets and vilify teachers. Teach us how to prepare for war, instead of education. We need leaders in DC who will keep our children safe. We need leaders who will stand up for our public schools, who support our teachers and students, not start culture wars. Who will fight for gun safety reforms to keep our children safe, not cozy up to gun lobbies. School should be a place of learning and discovery- not fear.
Education- Children deserve safe & quality public schools.
Everyday Americans- Fight for everyday families instead of billionaires & mega corporations.
Child trafficking- Houston is the number one trafficking hub in the country. We need to protect our children and communities.
Guns- We need reforms so we can go to school, work, & worship without fear.
Veterans- After fighting for our country, many veterans have to fight an unfair system for earned services.
Healthcare- Everyone should have access to affordable & quality healthcare.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House Texas District 38 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 25, 2026
