CD 9 · Open seat
U.S. Representative, District 9
Republicans redrew this majority-Hispanic seat after 2024, adding deep-red Liberty County. Mealer lost the 2022 county-judge race by 0.9 points.
The desk’s rating
Leans Republican
Democrat
Leticia Gutierrez
Community organizer with Air Alliance Houston; won March D primary
- Cash on hand
- $6K
- Raised
- $40K
- Spent
- $34K
Republican
Alex Mealer
West Point grad, Army EOD officer; lost 2022 County Judge race to Hidalgo by 0.9 pts; won May runoff over Briscoe Cain
- Cash on hand
- $415K
- Raised
- $1.77M
- Spent
- $1.36M
Money
Alex Mealer holds 70x as much cash.
Cash on hand as reported in each campaign’s latest filing (as of Q1 2026 and May 2026). Full finance records
The desk’s notes
Open seat. Al Green (D) vacated to run in CD-18 and lost. The district was redrawn by Republicans after the 2024 cycle to favor the GOP, adding deep-red Liberty County and drawing out many D-leaning voters. The new map makes this lean-R despite its majority-Hispanic CVAP.
All-women general election matchup.
More in Congress
All congress racesU.S. Representative, District 7
Lizzie Fletcher
Inc.$1.70M
Alexander Hale
$6K
Share of cash on hand
The county's only congressional toss-up. Fletcher flipped it in 2018 and has held on every cycle; Hale carries national Republican money.
Last general, 2024, old district lines
U.S. Representative, District 38
Melissa McDonough
$37K
Jon Bonck
$846K
Share of cash on hand
Open because Wesley Hunt ran for U.S. Senate and lost his primary.
Last general, 2024, old district lines
U.S. Representative, District 2
Shaun Finnie
$1.47M
Steve Toth
$124K
Share of cash on hand
Crenshaw was the first House incumbent to lose a primary this cycle: Toth beat him by 15 points with Cruz's endorsement.
Last general, 2024, old district lines