The Republican primary for Texas' 31st Congressional District will be held on March 3, 2026. The winner will be determined by plurality vote. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary, the top two vote-getters will compete in a runoff on May 26. Resolution will be based on official results from the Texas Secretary of State (https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/).

Background

Texas' 31st Congressional District covers a strip of Central Texas from the northern Austin suburbs up to Temple and Gatesville, centered around Bell and Williamson counties, and includes much of the area surrounding Fort Hood. The Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+11, making Texas' 31st the 105th most Republican district nationally.

Twelve-term incumbent John Carter (R) and nine other candidates are running in the Republican primary. President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Carter for re-election on December 4, 2025. Notable challengers include conservative activist Valentina Gomez, who ran for Missouri secretary of state last year, and former infomercial pitchman Offer Vince Shlomi, best remembered for promoting "ShamWow" towels.

Considerations

John Carter has served as the representative from this district since its creation, and the 31st district is one of only two districts in Texas that has never been represented by a member of the Democratic Party. The large field of challengers to an incumbent who has held the seat for over two decades suggests potential vulnerability, though the district's strong Republican lean and Trump's endorsement of Carter are significant advantages for the incumbent.

This description was generated by AI.