How to use this guide

1. Pick the issues you care about. Identify the two or three that matter most to you before comparing candidates.
2. Find which office handles them. The U.S. House votes on every federal law and the federal budget; all bills that raise revenue must start there. The U.S. Senate votes on every federal law and the federal budget, confirms presidential nominees including federal judges, and approves treaties. Ballot measures, when present, change state or local law.
3. Compare the candidates. Read where each candidate stands on your top issues, then check their funding and endorsements.

Texas's 2026 congressional elections use the 2025 map, Plan C2333. The Supreme Court allowed Texas to proceed with that map for 2026 while a legal appeal continued. District 22's lines differ from those used in 2024. ​

A verified district-specific candidate ballot order for the November 3 general election was not confirmed from the Texas Secretary of State's sample ballot page. Candidates in this guide are listed alphabetically by last name within each race.

The U.S. House race

What this office does

The U.S. House has 435 voting members elected to two-year terms. It votes on every federal law and the federal budget, and all revenue bills must originate there. Texas's 22nd U.S. House District is an open seat for 2026; the previous holder was Troy Nehls. 270towin consensus rates the race Solid Republican. Specific local issues for the district were not confirmed in the available information; voters can check local news coverage for community priorities.

Candidates in brief

Two candidates are running in Texas's 22nd U.S. House District: Marquette Greene-Scott (Democrat) and Trever Nehls (Republican).

| | Marquette Greene-Scott (D) | Trever Nehls (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Party | Democrat | Republican |
| Incumbent? | No | No |
| Background | Mayor Pro Tem of Iowa Colony; attorney practicing in Texas and Louisiana; small business owner; former high school and college mathematics teacher | Retired U.S. Army colonel with 33 years of service beginning in 1988; Fort Bend County Constable for Precinct 4, 2013–2020; served with the Sugar Land Police Department beginning in 1993 |
| Top priorities | Affordable healthcare and universal healthcare; lowering costs for housing, childcare and education; voting rights; ending tariffs; ending the war with Iran; protecting Social Security | Securing the border and enforcing immigration laws; lowering costs for groceries, gas and housing; energy independence; expanding Texas oil, gas and nuclear energy |
| Campaign website | marquettegreenescott.com | trevernehlsforcongress.com |

Where they stand

| Issue | Marquette Greene-Scott (D) | Trever Nehls (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | Raise the federal minimum wage and index it to inflation as a first step in addressing the affordability crisis | Work on solutions to tackle inflation and lower costs for groceries, gas, housing and everyday necessities; supports lower taxes and fewer regulations |
| Health care | Supports universal healthcare, saying it should not depend on employment or income | Not found |
| Housing | Housing costs have surged; includes housing among the affordability issues Congress should tackle | Lists lowering housing costs among goals for making District 22 and Texas more affordable |
| Immigration | Opposes the Trump administration's immigration rules; calls for comprehensive immigration reform passed by Congress rather than executive order | Congress should secure the southern border, finish the wall, end catch-and-release, and deport people who violate immigration laws |
| Abortion | Not found | Not found |
| Climate and energy | Not found | Supports expanding Texas oil, gas and nuclear energy and ending remaining Biden-era anti-energy policies |
| Foreign policy | Congress should "end this war with Iran" | Not found |
| Elections | Congress should address voting rights | Not found |

In their own words

Marquette Greene-Scott, in response to a question about projects Congress should focus on for Texas, Community Impact, Sept. 1, 2026:

"We must pass universal healthcare; raise the federal minimum wage, indexing it to inflation."

Trever Nehls, in response to a question about projects Congress should focus on for Texas, Community Impact, Sept. 1, 2026:

"I will support studying real solutions to improve mobility in the greater Houston area."

Questionnaires and debates

Marquette Greene-Scott responded to Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey and the Community Impact questionnaire. Greene-Scott did not respond to Vote411. No debates were found.

Trever Nehls responded to Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey and the Community Impact questionnaire. Nehls did not respond to Vote411. No debates were found.

Endorsements

Marquette Greene-Scott is endorsed by the Houston Chronicle editorial board and the Texas AFL-CIO. Trever Nehls is endorsed by President Donald Trump, outgoing Rep. Troy Nehls, Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Ronny Jackson, Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Steve Scalise, Rep. Randy Weber, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Mike Johnson.

| Candidate | Endorser | Category | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Greene-Scott | Houston Chronicle | Newspapers / media | Houston Chronicle |
| Marquette Greene-Scott | Texas AFL-CIO | Labor unions | Texas AFL-CIO |
| Trever Nehls | Donald Trump | Executive branch / federal officials | The Hill |
| Trever Nehls | Troy Nehls | U.S. representatives | Covering Katy |
| Trever Nehls | Ted Cruz | U.S. senators | VoteHub |
| Trever Nehls | Ronny Jackson | U.S. representatives | VoteHub |
| Trever Nehls | Jim Jordan | U.S. representatives | VoteHub |
| Trever Nehls | Steve Scalise | U.S. representatives | VoteHub |
| Trever Nehls | Randy Weber | U.S. representatives | VoteHub |
| Trever Nehls | Greg Abbott | Statewide officials | VoteHub |
| Trever Nehls | Dan Patrick | Statewide officials | VoteHub |
| Trever Nehls | Mike Johnson | U.S. representatives | Houston Public Media |

Who is funding them

The campaigns' fundraising figures for Marquette Greene-Scott and Trever Nehls run through Oct. 14, 2026.

| | Marquette Greene-Scott (D) | Trever Nehls (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Total raised | $68,000 | $327,000 |
| Small donors (under $200) | 34% | 61% |
| Larger donors (over $200) | 53% | 0% |
| PACs and other committees | 0% | 39% |
| Party committees | 12% | 0% |
| Self-funding | $0 (0%) | $0 (0%) |
| Transfers | $0 | $0 |
| Cash on hand | $2,630 | $75,000 |
| Outside spending for / against | None reported | $141,000 for / $0 against |

Top PAC donor for Marquette Greene-Scott: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority PAC, Inc. (AKA AKA 1908 PAC), $5,000. No top PAC donor was reported for Trever Nehls, though PACs and other committees supplied 39% of the money Nehls raised through Oct. 14. The largest outside spender was Defend American Jobs, which reported $141,000 in support of Trever Nehls.

Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are itemized by name in FEC filings; smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total.

Challengers' records

Marquette Greene-Scott has served as Mayor Pro Tem of Iowa Colony and as a city council member since 2021. Greene-Scott has not held federal office and has no congressional voting record.

Trever Nehls has not held elected or appointed public office at the federal level and has no congressional voting record to review. Nehls retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel after 33 years of service and served as Fort Bend County Constable for Precinct 4 from 2013 to 2020.

The U.S. Senate race

What this office does

U.S. senators serve six-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. The Senate also confirms presidential nominees, including federal judges, and approves treaties. The Texas U.S. Senate Seat (Class II) is an open seat for 2026; the previous holder was John Cornyn. 270towin consensus rates the race Toss-up. Local issues in District 22 that connect to Senate action include immigration and border policy, energy costs and health care affordability, all of which require federal legislation or appropriations.

Candidates in brief

Three candidates are on the November ballot: Ted Brown (Libertarian), Ken Paxton (Republican) and James Talarico (Democrat). None is an incumbent senator.

| | Ted Brown (L) | Ken Paxton (R) | James Talarico (D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Libertarian | Republican | Democrat |
| Incumbent? | No | No | No |
| Background | Graduated from UCLA in 1984 with a B.A. in political science; retired independent insurance adjuster; previously chaired the Libertarian Party of California and served as vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Travis County | Texas attorney general since 2015; served 10 years in the Texas House and two years in the Texas Senate before becoming attorney general | Currently serving a fourth term in the Texas House, representing parts of North Austin; worked at education organizations Reasoning Mind and MAYA Consulting; taught at Rhodes Middle School in the San Antonio Independent School District |
| Top priorities | Repeal the federal income tax and abolish the IRS; end ICE and allow free movement across borders with an Ellis Island-style entry system; bring all troops home and end foreign military interventions | Carry out President Trump's agenda including cutting taxes, securing the border and deporting undocumented immigrants; take on pharmaceutical and food companies; cut taxes and spending and reduce regulations on energy companies | Pass a cost-of-living tax cut for the middle class and cap credit-card interest rates; protect health coverage and lower prescription-drug costs; pass comprehensive immigration reform and make legal migration easier |
| Campaign website | tedbrown.org | kenpaxton.com | jamestalarico.com |

Where they stand

| Issue | Ted Brown (L) | Ken Paxton (R) | James Talarico (D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | Proposes repealing the federal income tax; says tariffs raise consumer prices | Cut taxes and spending, remove regulations on energy companies, and increase American oil and gas production to lower prices | Cut taxes for working people, cap credit-card interest rates, and lower rent, grocery, utility and gas costs |
| Health care | Not found | Proposes taking on pharmaceutical and food companies and increasing transparency in food and health care; campaign page does not specify a federal health-coverage position | Proposes a public insurance option, protecting the ACA, Medicaid and Medicare, lowering drug costs, and restoring reproductive-health access |
| Housing | Not found | Not found | Increase housing construction, expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and limit corporate landlords' ability to raise rents |
| Immigration | End ICE, limit CBP to ports of entry and allow free movement across borders after criminal-record and disease checks | Complete the border wall, secure the border and deport undocumented immigrants | Comprehensive immigration reform, more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, and prioritizing deportation of criminals, gang members and human traffickers |
| Abortion | Not found | Says he will defend the unborn | Supports codifying Roe v. Wade and protecting access to contraception and IVF |
| Climate and energy | Not found | Supports removing regulations on energy companies and promoting American energy production | Proposes an all-of-the-above energy approach, grid improvements, renewable-energy development and preparation for climate disasters |
| Foreign policy | Bring all troops home from foreign assignments, end military interventions and foreign aid, and withdraw from NATO | An America First foreign policy that prioritizes U.S. interests and "peace through strength" | Supports alliances and diplomacy, ending the Iran war, and preventing U.S. funds from being used to harm civilians |
| Elections | Not found | Not found | Proposes banning super PACs, partisan gerrymandering and congressional stock trading |

In their own words

Ted Brown, in the Texas Tribune candidate questionnaire, Oct. 13, 2026:

"There should be no border wall built in Big Bend National Park, and I believe Congress should pass a law against it and cut off all funding."

No verified quote under 25 words from Ken Paxton was found in the available questionnaire responses. Voters can read Paxton's full positions at kenpaxton.com and in coverage by the Texas Tribune.

James Talarico, on the Immigration and Border Security page of the Talarico campaign website:

"Our border should be like a front porch — it should have a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door."

Questionnaires and debates

Ted Brown responded to the Texas Tribune candidate questionnaire. Brown did not respond to Vote411 or Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

Ken Paxton declined the Texas Tribune questionnaire; no reason was stated in the published article. Paxton did not respond to Vote411 or Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Paxton declined or did not respond to CNN's town hall invitation; no reason was stated.

James Talarico responded to the Texas Tribune questionnaire and participated in a CNN town hall on Oct. 14, 2026. Talarico did not respond to Vote411 or Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. A CNN town hall was held Oct. 14, 2026; Talarico took part and Paxton did not respond to CNN's invitation.

Endorsements

| Candidate | Endorser | Category | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Paxton | Elon Musk | Executive branch / federal officials | The Hill |
| Ken Paxton | Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | Executive branch / federal officials | Houston Chronicle |
| Ken Paxton | Kristi Noem | Executive branch / federal officials | Hollywood Reporter |
| Ken Paxton | Brooke Rollins | Executive branch / federal officials | Tyler Paper |
| Ken Paxton | U.S. Chamber of Commerce | Organizations | Bloomberg |
| Ken Paxton | America PAC | Organizations | X |
| Ken Paxton | Young Conservatives of Texas | Organizations | YCT |
| Ken Paxton | Angela Paxton | State legislators | Washington Post |
| James Talarico | The Dallas Morning News | Newspapers / media | Dallas Morning News |
| James Talarico | San Antonio Express-News | Newspapers / media | San Antonio Express-News |
| James Talarico | Chris Van Hollen | U.S. senators | CNS Maryland |
| James Talarico | Neil Bush | Individuals | The Guardian |
| James Talarico | Barbara Bush | Individuals | Houston Public Media |
| James Talarico | Willie Nelson | Individuals | Houston Chronicle |
| James Talarico | Michael Bloomberg | Individuals | New York Times |
| James Talarico | Eva Longoria | Individuals | IJR |

Who is funding them

These figures come from FEC filings for Ted Brown, Ken Paxton and James Talarico for the 2026 cycle through Oct. 14, 2026.

| Measure | Ted Brown (L) | Ken Paxton (R) | James Talarico (D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total raised | $14,000 | $22.3 million | $146.3 million |
| Small donors (under $200) | 1% | 20% | 79% |
| Larger donors (over $200) | 44% | 78% | 21% |
| PACs and other committees | 0% | 2% | 0% |
| Party committees | 0% | 1% | 0% |
| Self-funding | $5,000 (35%) | $0 (0%) | $0 (0%) |
| Transfers | $0 | $6,633 | $2.6 million |
| Cash on hand | $1,288 | $4.8 million | $9.9 million |
| Outside spending for / against | $0 / $0 | $1.4 million / $27.2 million | $5.0 million / $1.3 million |

Top PAC donors for James Talarico: Advancing Democracy and Mobilization PAC, $12,000; Lobo PAC, $10,000; SD PAC, $10,000; Midwest Region Laborers' Political League, $7,500; MD PAC, $7,000. Top PAC donors for Ken Paxton: NRSC (the National Republican Senatorial Committee), $62,000; U.S. Anesthesia Partners, Inc. PAC, $25,000; Best at Bringing Entrepreneurial Results Never Imagined or Envisioned PAC, $10,000; National Association for Gun Rights Inc PAC, $10,000; Senate Conservatives Fund, $10,000. No PAC donors reported for Ted Brown.

The largest outside spenders were Texans for a Conservative Majority ($5.3 million in support and $30.1 million in opposition), Lone Star Rising PAC ($4.0 million in support and $4.6 million in opposition) and Lone Star Liberty PAC ($770,000 in support and $6.9 million in opposition).

Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are itemized by name in FEC filings; smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total.

Challengers' records

Ted Brown has not held public office. Brown has served in Libertarian Party roles, including as vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Travis County and in leadership positions within the Libertarian Party of California.

Ken Paxton served in the Texas House from 2003 to 2013 and in the Texas Senate after being elected in 2012, and has been Texas attorney general since 2015. The Texas House impeached Paxton in 2023, and the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton on Sept. 16, 2023.

James Talarico was first elected to the Texas House in 2018 and is serving a fourth term.

Contested claims about Ken Paxton's record:

James Talarico's campaign ran an ad characterizing a 2011 Texas House vote by Paxton as voting "to protect puppy abusers." PolitiFact rated the claim "Mostly false": Paxton did vote against the bill, which concerned appeal-bond amounts in animal-cruelty cases, but the penalties for animal abusers remained the same.

James Talarico's campaign stated that Paxton voted for a 2013 measure providing sales-tax breaks to qualifying data centers and received nearly half a million dollars in contributions from data-center interests. KPRC's review found Paxton voted for the tax break but said the cited $488,000 included donors with data-center investments and did not consist solely of contributions from data centers; KPRC independently verified more than $300,000 from six named donors.

Ken Paxton's campaign ran an ad presenting a remark by Talarico about taxing people as support for raising taxes broadly. FactCheck.org said the ad omitted that Talarico was talking about wealthy people and found other tax-related claims in the ad misleading or lacking context.

Ken Paxton's campaign claimed Talarico voted for an income tax and supports taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security. FactCheck.org said Talarico did not vote for an income tax; he opposed a proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting one. FactCheck.org said the claim about tips, overtime and Social Security misrepresented his opposition to the 2025 federal law, and reported that his campaign supported its middle-class tax cuts while opposing tax breaks for the top 1 percent.

Scorecards readers can check

Interest-group scorecards rate incumbents based on their voting records, giving voters a way to see how a member's votes align with a particular organization's priorities.

Trever Nehls is listed as a candidate in the House race record. Interest-group scorecards for Trever Nehls include: Heritage Action for America, 98 percent, 119th Congress (2025/2026); American Conservative Union (ACU) / CPAC, 100 percent, 2025; AFL-CIO legislative scorecard, 0 percent, 2025; League of Conservation Voters (LCV), 0 percent, 2025; National Taxpayers Union (NTU), 73 percent, 118th Congress, Second Session (2024). No Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score was found for Trever Nehls.

Different groups select different sets of votes to score, so their ratings measure different things. No Senate candidate in this race has served in Congress, so no congressional scorecard ratings apply to the Senate candidates.

Voters can look up additional scorecards at Heritage Action for America, ACU / CPAC ratings, the AFL-CIO scorecard and the League of Conservation Voters.

Also on your ballot

No statewide ballot measures for the November 3, 2026 general election were confirmed from the Texas Secretary of State's official materials. The Secretary of State's office lists 17 proposed constitutional amendments, but those are dated to the November 4, 2025 election, not November 3, 2026. Local measures depend on where you live within the district. Fort Bend County voters can find their complete sample ballot, including any local measures, at the Fort Bend County Elections office. Voters in other counties that overlap District 22 should check their own county elections office for local measures.

Before you go

  • Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 30, 2026. Vote at any early-voting location in your county of registration. Hours vary by location. Find locations through My Voter Portal or contact your county's early voting clerk.
  • Election Day hours: Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2026, statewide.
  • Photo ID: Voters are asked to present one of seven acceptable photo IDs. If you do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one, you may present a supporting ID and complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. If you do not meet those conditions or lack the supporting ID, you may vote provisionally and must take steps with the county voter registrar within six calendar days for the ballot to count. See VoteTexas.gov for the full list of accepted IDs.
  • In the booth: Voters may bring written materials to help cast their ballot, though electioneering rules also apply to those materials. Cell phones, tablets, laptops and similar wireless devices may not be used in the room where voting takes place, and recording sound or images within 100 feet of a voting station is prohibited. See Texas Secretary of State Election Advisory No. 2026-26 for details.
  • Registration deadline: The deadline to register for the Nov. 3, 2026 election was Oct. 5, 2026. You can check your registration status at My Voter Portal. Whether same-day registration is available was not confirmed on the state elections page.
  • Mail ballots: A domestic voter's ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 if not postmarked, or by 5 p.m. on Nov. 4 if postmarked by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Overseas and military deadlines differ. See Texas Secretary of State Important Election Dates for details.
  • Polling-place lookup: Find your Election Day polling place at My Voter Portal.
  • Hotlines: Texas Secretary of State voter assistance: 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). Election Protection: call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) at 866ourvote.org.

Sources

Official records

Campaign finance

  • FEC — Marquette Greene-Scott (H4TX22197)
  • FEC — Trever Nehls (H6TX22283)
  • FEC — Ted Brown (S4TX00888)
  • FEC — Ken Paxton (S6TX00388)
  • FEC — James Talarico (S6TX00479)
  • AllCiv — Texas 22nd U.S. House District race
  • AllCiv — Texas U.S. Senate race

Candidate statements and questionnaires

News and fact-checks

Advocacy groups

  • Heritage Action for America — Trever Nehls scorecard
  • American Conservative Union / CPAC — Trever Nehls ratings
  • AFL-CIO — Trever Nehls scorecard
  • League of Conservation Voters — Trever Nehls
  • National Taxpayers Union — 2024 ratings
  • Texas AFL-CIO — 2026 endorsements
  • Election Protection — 866ourvote.org

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