Who is running for U.S. House, Texas District 23 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for U.S. House, Texas District 23 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in U.S. House District 23.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Brandon HerreraRepublican | Katy Padilla StoutDemocrat | Ben MendozaIndependent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security | Gradually shift younger workers to personal investment accountsSaid · low | No public position | No public position |
| Healthcare | No public position | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Questionnaire answer · high | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Questionnaire answer · low |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | No public position |
| Guns | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightSaid · medium | Add universal background checks and red-flag lawsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Immigration | No single answer fits; see evidence | Tighter border security plus a path to legal status for long-time residentsQuestionnaire answer · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Foreign policy | Pull back from foreign conflicts and aid (often called America First)Said · medium | No public position | No public position |
| Term limits | Yes, strict limits, such as three House terms and two Senate termsSaid · high | No public position | No public position |
| Childcare and pre-K | No public position | Offer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidQuestionnaire answer · medium | No public position |
| Paid leave | No public position | Create a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysQuestionnaire answer · medium | No public position |
| Birthright citizenship | No public position | No public position | No, end it for children of parents here illegally or temporarilyQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Transgender athletes | No, and Congress should set a biological sex rule nationwideSaid · medium | No public position | No public position |
| Aid to Ukraine | Stop sending aid and stay out of itSaid · low | No public position | No public position |
Brandon Herrera
RepublicanPrivate citizen
Brandon Herrera is a firearms manufacturer and YouTube host known as "The AK Guy" who studied pre-law at Campbell College before starting his business23. He moved to the San Antonio area in 2021 and challenged Rep. Tony Gonzales in the 2024 Republican primary, losing the runoff by fewer than 400 votes23. He became the 2026 Republican nominee after Gonzales ended his campaign and the runoff was canceled35.
Where they stand
- Guns: Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a right
Said · medium confidence
- His campaign website says he will fight for national concealed carry reciprocity and block any attempt to pass red flag laws or impose new firearms restrictions. (2026-05) source
- In his 2024 primary challenge to Rep. Tony Gonzales, he criticized Gonzales for voting for the bipartisan gun safety bill passed after the Uvalde school shooting. (2024) source
- Term limits: Yes, strict limits, such as three House terms and two Senate terms
Said · high confidence
- His campaign website says he signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge and will co-sponsor a constitutional amendment limiting House members to three terms and senators to two. (2026-05) source
- Aid to Ukraine: Stop sending aid and stay out of it
Said · low confidence
- His campaign website says he will not support sending billions to defend foreign borders while U.S. borders remain open. (2026-05) source
- Foreign policy: Pull back from foreign conflicts and aid (often called America First)
Said · medium confidence
- His campaign website says he opposes endless wars and will vote to bring U.S. troops home from places like Syria and Iraq where the U.S. has no clear national interest. (2026-05) source
- Social Security: Gradually shift younger workers to personal investment accounts
Said · low confidence
- His campaign website says he will oppose cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits and supports expanding investment options for younger workers. (2026-05) source
- Transgender athletes: No, and Congress should set a biological sex rule nationwide
Said · medium confidence
- His campaign website says he will fight to protect women's sports so that girls do not have to compete with males. (2026-05) source
- Abortion: Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incest
Said · low confidence
- His campaign website says he is committed to defending life at every stage, will oppose all government funding for abortion, and will sponsor the Infant Born Alive Act. (2026-05) source
- Immigration: No single answer fits; see the evidence below.
Said · medium confidence
- His campaign website says he will oppose any spending bill that does not fund comprehensive border security, reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy and end abuse of the asylum system, and that Big Bend's terrain makes a physical wall unnecessary there. (2026-05) source
- Hosted a border wall forum in Alpine and said he is committed to keeping the border secure while protecting Big Bend. (2026-05-07) source
- Income taxes: No single answer fits; see the evidence below.
Said · medium confidence
- His campaign website says he has signed a No New Taxes pledge. (2026-05) source
No public position found on: National debt, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Trade and tariffs, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, China policy.
Katy Padilla Stout
DemocratMember, Bexar County Child Welfare Board (appointed)
Katy Padilla Stout is a San Antonio attorney whose practice focuses on child welfare cases, and a former Northside ISD elementary school teacher23. She earned an education degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from South Texas College of Law, and has served on the Bexar County Child Welfare Board since 201723. She won the four-way 2026 Democratic primary for the 23rd District34.
Where they stand
- Healthcare: Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)
Questionnaire answer · high confidence
- Told the San Antonio Report she supports expanding Medicare to cover all Americans and, short of that, strengthening the Affordable Care Act. (2026-01-08) source
- Her campaign website repeats her support for expanding Medicare to cover all Americans and expanding federal community health centers. (2026) source
- Guns: Add universal background checks and red-flag laws
Said · medium confidence
- Her campaign website cites majority support for universal background checks, a bump stock ban and red flag laws, says no constitutional right is without reasonable limits, and calls for more mental health funding. (2026) source
- Abortion: Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)
Said · low confidence
- Her campaign website says medical decisions should remain between a woman and her doctor and that the government has no business getting involved in those decisions. (2026) source
- Childcare and pre-K: Offer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aid
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
- Said the country should make historic investments in universal pre-K to give families relief. (2026-01-08) source
- Paid leave: Create a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick days
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
- Said the country should require paid parental leave supported through existing unemployment insurance programs. (2026-01-08) source
- Immigration: Tighter border security plus a path to legal status for long-time residents
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
- Said Congress must take bipartisan action on immigration, provide reasonable pathways to citizenship for neighbors living and working here, and secure the border. (2026-01-08) source
- Her campaign website criticizes an enforcement-only policy and opposes a planned border wall in the Big Bend region. (2026) source
- Income taxes: No single answer fits; see the evidence below.
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
- Said billionaires should not get tax cuts and the tax code should empower the middle class. (2026-01-08) source
- Trade and tariffs: No single answer fits; see the evidence below.
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
- Said Congress should reassert its authority over tariffs and limit the president's ability to impose them unilaterally, and that the Trump tariffs are raising costs. (2026-01-08) source
- Minimum wage: No single answer fits; see the evidence below.
Said · medium confidence
- Her campaign website says she supports raising the minimum wage. (2026) source
- Energy and climate: No single answer fits; see the evidence below.
Said · medium confidence
- Her campaign website says the United States should rejoin the Paris Climate Accord. (2026) source
- Aid to Israel: No single answer fits; see the evidence below.
Said · medium confidence
- Told Jewish Insider she would consider U.S. aid to Israel on a case-by-case basis and would wait until elected to more fully state her views. (2026-03-19) source
No public position found on: National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Business regulation, Foreign policy, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.
Ben Mendoza
IndependentPrivate citizen
Ben Mendoza is an El Paso professional mediator with a criminal justice degree from the University of Texas at El Paso who worked in magazine circulation and education sales and owned a formal wear business1. He has run several times for office, including the U.S. House in the 16th District in 2018 and El Paso mayor in 202412. He qualified for the 2026 ballot as an independent in the 23rd District34.
Where they stand
- Birthright citizenship: No, end it for children of parents here illegally or temporarily
Questionnaire answer · low confidence
- Listed prohibiting "anchor babies" among the immigration changes Congress should make. (2026-09) source
- Healthcare: Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)
Questionnaire answer · low confidence
- Proposed a plan that would put all uninsured people into Medicare and 18-year-olds into a "Medicare Jr." program, with no more middleman insurance companies, paid for by the federal government. (2026-09) source
- Energy and climate: No single answer fits; see the evidence below.
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
- Said Congress should enact oil and gas subsidies for refineries, farmers, businesses and the public, and listed supporting oil, gas and cattle interests among his priorities. (2026-09) source
- Immigration: No single answer fits; see the evidence below.
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
- Said Congress should prohibit open borders, Temporary Protected Status and "religious fanatical" immigration, and support and expand seasonal H-2A and H-2B work visas. (2026-09) source
No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-09-27. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.