The Winner

If you live in Texas's 36th U.S. House District, you will continue to be represented in Congress by Brian Babin (R-TX), who has been declared the winner of the 2026 congressional race, according to the Associated Press. The general election was held Nov. 3, and Babin took roughly 81.1 percent of the vote, according to official results from the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, with totals subject to change until the state certifies. The seat stays in Republican hands. ​

The Race

Rhonda Hart, the Democratic opponent, advanced through the March 3, 2026, Democratic primary, winning about 64.2 percent of the vote over Doug Rogers. Cook Political Report rated the seat Solid Republican heading into Election Day; Inside Elections and Sabato's Crystal Ball each rated it Solid Republican or Safe Republican as well, according to Ballotpedia.

The 36th District covers Newton, Jasper, Tyler, Hardin, Liberty, and Chambers counties, plus portions of Jefferson County and southeastern Harris County in southeast Texas, according to the U.S. House of Representatives district profile. The district has a total population of about 784,300 residents, a median household income of about $76,000, and a median age of about 37, according to Geographies data for the district. About 24 percent of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher; the district's population is about 55 percent white, 11.3 percent Black, 33.5 percent Hispanic and 4.2 percent Asian, with an unemployment rate of about 6.9 percent and about 14.1 percent of residents living below the poverty line.

What's Next

Babin is set to take office on January 3, 2027. Babin said his priorities include stronger border security, expanding American energy production, lowering taxes, reducing federal regulations, protecting Second Amendment rights, controlling federal spending and supporting veterans, according to 12NewsNow, which reported his campaign priorities on Nov. 4, 2026.

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