The recent redistricting in Texas has ignited a competitive race for the 32nd Congressional District, a seat that is now almost certainly destined for a Republican following the adjustment of boundaries that extend from Dallas into the historically conservative regions of East Texas.
Among the nine Republican contenders campaigning for the position held by Rep. Julie Johnson, notable candidates include Ryan Binkley, a businessman and pastor who previously launched a self-funded, albeit unsuccessful, presidential campaign in 2024; Jace Yarbrough, an attorney, conservative activist, and former state Senate candidate; Darrell Day, who was the Republican nominee in the last election cycle; and Paul Bondar, who had previously run for Oklahoma’s 4th District.
Johnson, a freshman Democrat from Farmers Branch, found herself drawn out of her district last summer due to a congressional map crafted by Republican lawmakers aimed at gaining up to five additional seats for the party in the 2026 midterm elections. With her formerly blue district now leaning heavily Republican, Johnson has decided to run for a nearby seat that encompasses roughly one-third of her current constituents.
The newly established 32nd District now spans from the suburbs of Dallas into rural East Texas, incorporating six new counties that are predominantly white and Republican-leaning. Less than half of the population from the current 32nd District will remain in the new boundaries, which will shift the political landscape from one that Kamala Harris won by approximately 24 percentage points in 2024 to one that Donald Trump would have carried by an 18-point margin.
Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, stated, “Of the five districts targeted by Republicans during redistricting, District 32 stands out as the most securely Republican. For Republicans to lose this seat, they would need to nominate a significantly flawed candidate and hope for an unprecedented blue wave across the country.”
This redistricting has rekindled optimism among Texas Republicans for securing this seat for the foreseeable future. Initial speculation included high-profile names joining the race, such as California GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, state Rep. Katrina Pierson from Rockwall, and state Sen. Angela Pa from McKinney.
However, none of these politicians entered the fray, nor did any local elected officials, who often serve as stepping stones for congressional aspirants. Jones remarked that the newly drawn District 32 lacks a substantial portion of any major county, such as Dallas or Collin, potentially discouraging local officials from running.
The remaining candidates are lesser-known individuals who assert strong right-wing ideologies that align with the Trump administration’s positions on issues like abortion, immigration, gun rights, energy policy, and government spending.
Given the high number of candidates, the race is expected to lead to a runoff between the top two contenders. Jones emphasized that none of the nine candidates distinctly stands out above the rest.
Binkley, who heads a consulting firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, was the first to declare his candidacy. By the end of September, he reported raising over $1 million, with $754,000 of that amount coming from his personal finances.
Despite a lackluster presidential campaign that ended with his withdrawal after the fourth primary contest, Binkley demonstrated a capacity for self-funding, having injected over $11 million into his White House run. This financial backing could provide him an advantage in the open congressional primary.
In his campaign for the 32nd District, Binkley has garnered endorsements from U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey and prominent local religious figures, including Kelly Shackelford, president and CEO of First Liberty Institute, a conservative Christian law firm based in Plano. Binkley is also the founding pastor of Create Church in Richardson.
In his campaign kickoff announcement in August, Binkley committed to advancing Trump’s America First agenda and pledged to collaborate with the president on policies focusing on border security, domestic energy, and economic development.
Yarbrough, another candidate, previously ran for a state Senate seat in North Texas in 2024 but lost in the primary runoff to Brent Hagenbuch, who enjoyed support from influential figures such as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Yarbrough’s previous campaign received backing from notable conservatives, including Kyle Rittenhouse, and he has secured several key endorsements for his congressional run, including from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Reps. Lance Gooden and Keith Self, who collectively represent nearly 200,000 constituents transitioning into the new 32nd District.
A constitutional lawyer, Yarbrough emphasizes his experience in various legal battles, including a lawsuit aimed at preventing San Antonio from using public funds for out-of-state abortions and defending first responders in San Francisco who were dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. During his time as an Air Force Reserve officer, he took legal action against the Air Force and Space Force for reprimanding him over comments made at a private event regarding the military’s “cancel culture.”
Yarbrough’s platform aligns with the state’s conservative stance on immigration, abortion, energy production, and fiscal restraint.
Bondar, a Texas resident, previously waged an unsuccessful campaign to represent Oklahoma in Congress in 2024, spending millions on advertisements against Rep. Tom Cole. Despite his efforts, Cole secured 65% of the vote against Bondar’s 26% in the primary.
A report from the Oklahoman in 2024 alleged Bondar had tenuous connections to individuals linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, an assertion he has strongly refuted.
Day, a small business owner, has previously sought the District 32 seat in the last two election cycles and won the Republican nomination in 2024. He has held various political roles, including serving on the Arlington City Council, and presents himself as someone grounded in the Bible and the U.S. Constitution, committed to providing solutions for Texans.
He enjoys support from numerous political leaders in Dallas County and right-wing organizations like Moms for Liberty and Latinos United for Conservative Action.
Other candidates in the race for District 32 include Marine veteran Aimee Carrasco, businessman Gordon Heslop, Air Force veteran Monty Montanez, oil and gas worker James Ussery, and Dallas-area entrepreneur Abteen Vaziri, who is involved in the EB-5 immigrant investor program.
