TX-38 Democratic nominee?
$1.7K
MAR 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleRealtor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationTexas
Show moreShow less
BackgroundRealtor
Notable personal detailsMelissa A. McDonough is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Texas’s 38th Congressional District. She previously ran for the same seat in the 2024 cycle and filed with the FEC again for the 2026 cycle. She has been described in election handicapping materials as a realtor and has also been referenced in reporting as having served on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports raising the minimum wage to $20/hour, backing resources for small businesses and renewable-energy job transitions, while also endorsing targeted tax breaks for manufacturers (equipment and inventory) to attract investment. The combination of support for higher wages and selective business tax incentives presents mixed signals on an overall tax/economic stance.
Healthcare
The candidate supports creating a universal healthcare system (explicitly lists Medicare for All) and expanding access to care through Medicaid expansion, community clinics, and strengthened community healthcare programs. The platform also calls to end employer-provided health insurance and to invest in workforce recruitment, provider working conditions, and research for chronic and invisible diseases.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports streamlining legal immigration and addressing root causes of migration while calling for more effective border management rather than spending on ineffective barriers; emphasizes assisting newcomers with services and reducing backlogs.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports abortion access with some limits; describes abortion as sometimes necessary to save the life of a mother and emphasizes bodily autonomy, while indicating taxpayer dollars should not fund abortions though funds may support related medical services.
Climate & Energy
The candidate expresses support for the oil and gas industry while calling for accountability and stronger environmental oversight, and she opposed a Texas energy fund proposal on the basis that it lacks accountability and does not address renewable energy.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports common-sense gun safety measures to prevent mass shootings while respecting the Second Amendment; emphasizes responsible gun ownership, protecting children, and addressing mental-health contributors to gun violence. Does not endorse a blanket ban on guns and calls for conversation and policy to improve safety.
Endorsements
Endorsers of Melissa McDonough for TX-38 Democratic nominee?
Everytown for Gun Safety/Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Public endorsement
Everytown for Gun Safety/Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America endorsed Melissa McDonough.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262024
2026
LatestCycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- News
- Polls