Who's In the Race

Republican Alex Mealer faces Democrat Leticia Gutierrez in the Nov. 3 general election in Texas's 9th District. The seat is open: Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who held it, lost the Democratic runoff for Texas's 18th District on May 26, and will leave Congress in January. Texas also enacted a new congressional map in August 2025, in effect for this election. ​

Mealer is a West Point graduate, combat veteran, Harvard JD/MBA holder, and former oil-and-gas finance executive who also ran a small business. She advanced from the Republican runoff on May 26, winning about 68 percent of the vote.

Gutierrez is an environmental advocate from Houston's East End. She says she has more than 15 years of experience in environmental advocacy and public health. She won the Democratic primary on March 3 with about 54 percent of the vote over runner-up Earnest Clayton.

What They Stand For

Mealer has proposed restoring "law and order at the border," enforcing immigration laws and providing federal resources to law enforcement, according to her campaign website. She's also supported:

  • Expanding domestic energy production to lower gas and electricity prices and strengthen U.S. energy security,
  • Reducing flooding as a district priority; and
  • strengthening U.S. energy security.

Gutierrez has proposed upgrading Texas's power grid, according to Take Back Congress. She also supports:

  • Protecting water infrastructure,
  • Eliminating corporate subsidies to improve government accountability; and
  • Holding polluters accountable and bringing community voices to policymakers, according to the Houston Voters Guide.

The Money Behind the Race

Federal Election Commission filings show Gutierrez raised about $55,000 through June 30 and had about $19,000 in the bank. FEC filings for Mealer's fundraising through the same period were not available in the record.

Outside groups have spent about $5.9 million in the race as of Oct. 13, the vast majority of it backing Mealer. Club for Growth Action was the top spender in the race, with about $1.1 million in support. Win It Back PAC reported about $1.03 million in outside spending, including about $616,000 in support and $417,000 in opposition, while Veterans Duty Fund reported $749,780 in support.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race "Likely Republican" as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball gave it the same rating as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections also called it "Likely Republican" as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans, whose nominee is Mealer, an 80.2 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 13; Democrats, whose nominee is Gutierrez, stood at 19.8 percent.

Al Green won Texas's 9th U.S. House District with about 77 percent of the vote in 2022 and 100 percent in 2024. Republicans held 25 of Texas's 38 U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024, with Democrats holding the remaining 13. Donald Trump carried Texas in the 2024 presidential election with about 56 percent of the vote.

The voter-registration deadline was Monday, Oct. 5. Mail-ballot applications must be received by Friday, Oct. 23. Early voting in Harris County runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 30, with hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Election Day polls are open Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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