Private citizen

Melissa McDonough is a Democrat and Tomball-area Realtor with about 30 years in real estate, including 20 years owning or managing a brokerage⁶. She has lobbied Congress on consumer protection and healthcare and has worked as a Harris County election judge¹⁵⁶. She was the Democratic nominee for the 38th District in 2024 and won the March 2026 Democratic primary outright¹².

Where they stand

• Healthcare: Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All) Said · high confidence
  • Her campaign home page lists universal healthcare (Medicare for All) among her healthcare positions. (2026) source
  • Told Community Impact that one of her top priorities is ensuring universal healthcare as a human right. (2026-08-26) source
• Abortion: Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks) Said · low confidence
  • Her platform, posted since 2024, says women deserve bodily autonomy and that their healthcare decisions should be made privately with a physician. (2024) source
  • Told Ballotpedia that reproductive matters should be determined by individuals and their doctors. (2024-08-29) source
• Guns: Add universal background checks and red-flag laws Said · medium confidence
  • Her platform supports safe storage (Ethan's Law), stronger background checks and mental health access, and says banning guns is not a practical solution. (2026) source
• Campaign finance: Overturn Citizens United by amendment and add public financing of campaigns Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
  • Listed getting money out of politics as a priority and said dark money has flooded politics since the Citizens United decision. (2024-08-29) source
• Aid to Ukraine: No single answer fits; see the evidence below. Said · medium confidence
  • Her platform, posted since 2024, says the U.S. should continue to support Ukraine with older military equipment while avoiding a scenario that requires U.S. troops on the ground. (2024) source
• Aid to Israel: No single answer fits; see the evidence below. Said · medium confidence
  • Her platform, posted since 2024, says Israel is a U.S. ally with a right to defend itself, that its response should be proportionate and its leaders held accountable for any war crimes, and that a two-state solution should be honored. (2024) source
• Trade and tariffs: No single answer fits; see the evidence below. Said · medium confidence
  • Her platform, posted since 2024, says the Trump trade war with China cost Americans 80 billion dollars in new taxes and that good trade policy requires treating trading partners with respect. (2024) source
  • Told Community Impact that tariff threats are squeezing the local economy. (2026-08-26) source
• Energy and climate: No single answer fits; see the evidence below. Said · medium confidence
  • Her platform, posted since 2024, says Texas should embrace renewable energy innovation while the petroleum industry remains integral, using renewables in conjunction with fossil fuels. (2024) source
• Student loans: No single answer fits; see the evidence below. Said · medium confidence
  • Her platform, posted since 2024, says students should not be punished with a lifetime of debt, points to tuition-free college in Germany and Norway, and calls for making education more affordable. (2024) source
• Term limits: No single answer fits; see the evidence below. Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
  • Asked her thoughts on term limits in a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, she answered: yes, please. (2024-08-29) source
• Immigration: No single answer fits; see the evidence below. Said · medium confidence
  • Her platform, posted since 2024, says the situation at the border has gotten out of hand, opposes spending on border barriers, and calls for streamlining legal immigration and addressing root causes in Latin America. (2024) source

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Foreign policy, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.